Election Matching Funds

Matching Funds

On June 27, 2011, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion which effectively declared that matching funds in public financing laws is unconstitutional.

Specifically, the opinion provides "additional funds to a publicly funded candidate when expenditures by a privately financed candidate and independent groups exceed 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."

View entire opinion.

Matching Funds in Albuquerque

The City of Albuquerque Open and Ethical Elections Code has a matching funds provision. The City Clerk's Rules and Regulations also contains provisions for administering the matching funds provision.

The City of Albuquerque is subject to a permanent injunction issued from the United States District Court, District of New Mexico, from taking any action to implement the matching funds provision of the Charter Code and the corresponding rules and regulations.

Albuquerque Affected

Participating candidates in Regular Municipal Election will not receive matching funds from the City and will receive only the initial distribution of funds as outlined in the City Charter.