Public Campaign Financing Commission Ruled Unconstitutional

Public Campaign Financing Commission Ruled Unconstitutional

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Public Campaign Financing Commission Ruled Unconstitutional

 On Thursday, 3/12/2020, a state judge struck down a New York law establishing a publicly-financed election system, ruling the Legislature was wrong to enlist an outside commission to craft the rules.
 
The 2019 Public Finance and Elections Commission recommended stricter contribution limits for statewide and legislative campaigns and a new matching funds program for candidates, but also lifted requirements making it more difficult for minor parties to maintain ballot status - from 50,000 votes to 130,000. 
 
The League believed that the commission should not have made recommendations on minor party qualifications or fusion voting and signed onto a joint letter in August of 2019 urging the commission to focus on campaign finance. This ruling will eliminate the commission's plan and allow the legislature to revisit the issue during the legislative session. 
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League to which this content belongs: 
Utica-Rome Metropolitan Area