Check It Off
Check It Out! Check It Off for
Clean Elections on Line 1 of your Maine Income Tax Form
Here's
Why:
When Maine citizens created the first-in-the-nation
Clean Election public financing system, they aimed to get the big money out of
Maine elections and allow qualified people from all walks of life to run. To
pay for it, they chose a system that relies on many small contributions - one
that allows all Mainers to contribute.
The income tax
check-off is an important part of Clean Election funding.
Check-off
Facts:
The Clean Election check-off is on Line 1 of the Maine Income Tax form.
Checking it off does not add to your tax bill or reduce your refund.
Checking it off directs three dollars into the Maine Clean Election Fund, which finances the campaigns of state candidates who limit their spending and forego private campaign fundraising.
Maine taxpayers have collectively provided millions of dollars to the Fund since the check-off was implemented in 1998.
The money from the check-off earns interest until it is needed for the next election cycle.
When tens of thousands of Maine people Check It Off, it sends a strong message of support for the Clean Election system.
Clean
Election Facts:
The Clean Election system has been in place since 2000.
Eighty percent of legislative candidates use Clean Elections.
In the 125th Legislature, 73% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats, and 100% of independents used Clean Elections
In the 2010 election cycle alone, Maine voters voluntarily made 40,000 Qualifying Contributions of $5 to help candidates they support qualify for Clean Election funding.
National polls show that across the country, people want what we have here in Maine. By more than three-to-one (67% to 20%), voters support a citizen-funded system like Clean Elections.
