Keeping it Clean: Clean Elections

November 24, 2003

Keeping It Clean
(Phoenix, AZ)
Arizona's Clean Elections Institute has declared this "Clean elections month". Supporters of Arizona's law that uses taxpayer money to support political campaigns say it removes special interest influence from the political process, and allows people who couldn't otherwise afford to run, to seek elected office. Critics say it's a violation of their free speech, and requires taxpayers to support the positions of politicians they may not agree with. KJZZ's Mark Moran reports on the status of the Arizona law, and on efforts to overturn it.
[ Mark Moran ]

Additional Information

The Citizens Clean Elections Act, which was passed by voters in the November 1998 general election, fundamentally changed Arizona's campaign finance laws by establishing a system for publicly funding candidate election campaigns. The system is voluntary; candidates may choose to participate, or they may choose to raise funds in the traditional manner.

Legislative (House of Representatives and Senate) and statewide office candidates (Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Corporation Commissioner and Mine Inspector) are eligible to receive public funding. More information can be found at the Citizens Clean Election website at www.ccec.state.az.us.