The South Carolina Clean Elections Act would bring voluntary public financing of elections for state elections where candidates can choose to run using public funding instead of constantly fundraising and accepting money from powerful special intersts hoping to weild their influence. It provides qualified candidates - those who collect a set amount of signatures and $5 donations from within their district - enough funds to run a competitive campaign. Once qualified, candidates must adhere to strict spending limits and forego all private fundraising.
This past November, more than 200 officials were elected under publicly financed elections systems in Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina. Similar laws are also in place for all or some offices in Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Albuquerque, NM, and Portland, OR and a number of other states are considering similar legislation.
