Financing Presidential Elections
How the System Works
Public funding of presidential elections means that qualified presidential candidates receive Federal Government funds to pay for the valid expenses of their political campaigns in both the primary and general elections. National political parties also receive Federal money for their national nominating conventions. When and How Public Funding Began The Federal Election Commission administered the first public funding program in 1976. Eligible presidential candidates used Federal funds in their primary and general election campaigns, and the major parties used public funds to pay for their nominating conventions. Legislation for public financing of presidential candidates was first proposed, however, in 1907….