Campaign Finance Reform - Local Rules

Over 80 local governments have passed some form of campaign finance legislation. The National Civic League has compiled an Inventory of Local Reforms of those it knows about. Over half of those reforms have been enacted since 1990 and it is likely that there are more reforms out there yet to be discovered.

State and national reformers have known for some time of high-profile examples of local campaign finance reform efforts: Tucson, Seattle, and New York are examples. But many of the smaller reform efforts have escaped widespread media attention.

Among these 80 or so reforms, the National Civic League has pinpointed some of the best in a number of categories: Fort Collins, CO has enacted the lowest contribution limit for local elections, Tucson, AZ has enacted a public financing law, and Little Rock, AR has placed time limits on when a candidate can receive contributions for her election.

More:

• National Civic League
• National Voting Rights Institute
• Issues and Legal Precedent in State Campaign Finance Reform - Reclaim Democracy, November 2002
  A great primer and tool for groups considering local- or state-level election financing reforms.
• Local Campaign Finance Reform: Case Studies, Innovative and Model Legislation Summaries - National Civic League