Site Map |

Search Ethics:

financial disclosure

• View Reports and Lists

information and resources

• For Candidates
• For PACs
• For Ballot Question Committees
• For Lobbyists
• For Legislators
• For Executive Employees
• For Party Committees
• For Others
• Guide to Political Activity
• Maine Clean Election Act
  • 2011 MCEA Report
  • How to Get Started
  • Seed Money Contributions
  • Qualifying Contributions
  • What Is and Is Not a Contribution
  • How to Request Certification
  • Initial Distribution Amounts
  • Matching Funds
  • Accepting Assistance as a MCEA Candidate
• Laws and Rules
• Other Disclosure
• Publications

electronic filing

• Filer Login

online services

• Lobbyist Registration
• Qualifying Contributions
• Penalty Payment

Matching Funds

In a decision regarding Arizona's clean election program, the United States Supreme Court held that Arizona's matching funds system, which provided additional funds to a publicly funded candidate when expenditures by a privately financed candidate and independent groups exceeded the funding initially allotted to the publicly financed candidate, substantially burdens political speech and is not sufficiently justified by a compelling interest to survive First Amendment scrutiny. Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett, 564 U.S. ____, 131 S. Ct. 2806 (2011).

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision also impacted Maine's matching funds system because it was substantially similar to Arizona's. Following the Supreme Court's decision, the U. S. District Court of Maine struck down the matching funds provisions of the Maine Clean Election Act.

For more information and updates about changes to the MCEA program in light of the Court's decision, please refer to the 2011 MCEA Report page.

Maine.gov | Ethics Home | Site Policies