August 15, 2012 By Amanda Carey Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina‘s Democratic Party recently spent $18,600 to run an ad in Charlotte, North Carolina, mocking Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The ad, which runs about 30 seconds, is titled “Down Here,” and includes footage from Romney in 2012 talking about his support for Massachusetts’ “tough gun laws.” The ad also references [...]

By Al Ortiz Campaign contributions and expenditures have seen a good amount of activity for an “off-numbered” year. For 2011 ballot measures, the total amount of pre-election contributions have totaled to approximately $43,706,549 based off of official documents obtained from state elections officials’ websites. Among the 34 ballot measures on 9 statewide ballots this year, only 11 [...]

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: In a recent report released by the Illinois Election Board, it was stated that over the past thirteen years fines have been levied on various election campaigns totaling $21.5 million but only $1.2 million of those fines have actually been paid. On average, just $95,875 is paid a year to the Election Board [...]

By Bailey Ludlam Earlier this week, the United States Supreme Court struck down Arizona’s campaign finance matching provision, citing a violation of the First Amendment. Less than a week later, the ruling has impacted not one, but at least two states. Florida On Wednesday, June 29, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle emulated the SCOTUS ruling [...]

By Al Ortiz JACKSON, Mississippi: During the first half of the year, the 2011 ballot measure count remained relatively quiet. Only 16 ballot measures are certified in four states. The exception to this statement would be the state of Mississippi. In the Magnolia State, two of the three certified ballot questions are under litigation to [...]

By Kyle Maichle OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: Members of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission urged members of the Legislature to change the state’s campaign finance laws on January 21, 2011. [1]The changes are needed in order to comply with a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that opened the door for corporations and labor unions to have a bigger role in campaigns. [1] In spite [...]

By Kyle Maichle MARGATE, New Jersey: Members of the Concerned Citizens of Margate have filed a motion with Judge Valerie Armstrong asking for a stay on her December 21, 2010, decision to not allow the city to abide by petitions requesting for an spending initiative on the ballot. [1] Armstrong dismissed the petitions because Magrate is a city [...]

By Kyle Maichle OLYMPIA, Washington: Members of the Washington Legislature are considering a series of campaign finance proposals aimed to increase transparency among campaign committees.[1] State Senator Craig Pridemore is proposing a bill that would close loopholes on committee to committee transfers. The bill came in response when Moxie Media created numerous political committees that shuffled money [...]

DENVER, Colorado: The campaign in support of Colorado’s Proposition 102, the 2010 ballot measure that was proposed to amend the criteria for setting bail and type of bond, has been fined for alleged campaign finance violations. Supporters of Proposition 102, called “Safe Streets”, were fined $12,200 for the alleged campaign finance violations by Adminstrative Law Judge Laura [...]

By Bailey Ludlam and Al Ortiz: January 2011 marks the beginning of a new year for ballot measures, as Ballotpedia will turn to a new batch of election dates, legislative sessions, proposals and campaigns. Before 2010 ends, however, Ballotpedia has completed the last section of the 2010 ballot measure analysis, which breaks down election percentages by ballot [...]