Issue
Public Funding for Election Campaigns
Election Parts
Criteria
- All candidates were treated equitably with regard to campaign finance and expenditures
- Both the state and citizens were able to support candidates and parties, including financial support, and this support did not interfere with the independence of the party
- State support of candidates was available on an equitable basis and was distributed according to an objective, fair and reasonable formula
Summaries
- The state and its citizens are both entitled to provide support to candidates and political parties.
- State support to candidates and political parties may be financial.
- The state may contribute, directly or indirectly, to the operational costs of party activities, election campaigns, and the functioning of parliamentary party groups.
- State support should be limited to reasonable contributions.
- The formula for the distribution of state support to to candidates and political parties should be objective, fair, and reasonable.
- If election campaign expenses are reimbursed by the state, the state should ensure that the system of such reimbursement is sufficiently well developed to permit elections to take place in a pluralistic climate.
- State and citizen support should not interfere with the independence of a political party.
- Where legislation allows for public funding, private funding, or a mix of the two, legislation should ensure that all political parties and candidates are treated equitably with respect to campaign finance and expenditures.
- If public funds are distributed to political parties and candidates, those funds should be available on an equitable basis.
- Measures to promote the participation and representation of women could include gender-targeted public funding of political parties.