Primary Election
The federal government will match up to $250 of an individual's total contributions to an eligible candidate.
Only candidates seeking nomination by a political party to the office of President are eligible to receive primary matching funds. In addition, a candidate must establish eligibility by submitting to the FEC proof that at least $5,000 was raised in each of at least 20 states. Only a maximum of $250 per individual applies toward the $5,000 threshold in each state.
The spending limit increases every cycle due to inflation. The FEC estimates that the limits for the primary election will be $40.9 million, of which a candidate must abide by state limits of 65.4 cents per person of voting age population in a state, or $817,800, whichever is greater. Certain fundraising expenses (up to 20 percent of the expenditure limit) and legal and accounting expenses incurred solely to ensure the campaign's compliance with the law do not count against the expenditure limits.
Once they have established eligibility for matching payments, Presidential candidates may receive public funds to match contributions from individual contributors, up to $250 per individual. The contributions must be in the form of a check or money order, although with the Internet, credit cards are also eligible as they can be tracked. Contributions from political committees and cash contributions are ineligible.
Eligible candidates may receive public funds equaling up to half of the national spending limit for the primary campaign, although because of the donors that give up to the $2,300 limit, they generally raise much more money than they receive in matching funds.
In 2008, many of the top candidates chose not to accept the primary matching funds. Tom Tancredo, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich, and Duncan Hunter qualified for and elected to take public funds in the primary. John McCain qualified for public funds in the primary, but later decided to reject them. Other major candidates have eschewed the low amount of spending permitted and have chosen not to participate.
Read more about this topic: Presidential Election Campaign Fund Checkoff
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