Chapter 13 – State Elections & Campaigning
13.8 Campaign Finance Laws in Ohio
Campaign finance laws are regulations that govern the raising and spending of money in political campaigns to promote transparency, reduce corruption, and ensure fairness in the electoral process.
Ohio’s campaign finance laws aim to promote transparency, reduce corruption, and ensure a fair electoral process by regulating contribution limits and enforcing disclosure requirements. For example, individuals can contribute up to $15,499.69 to a statewide candidate per election period, while PACs (which stands for political action committee) and party committees have higher limits. These regulations help prevent undue influence by wealthy donors and provide public insight into who is funding political campaigns.
The Ohio Elections Commission oversees the enforcement of these laws, investigating violations and imposing penalties to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. Additionally, Ohio offers a public financing option through the Ohio Political Party Fund, supported by a voluntary check-off option on state income tax returns. This fund aims to reduce reliance on private donations and support fair political competition. Understanding and adhering to these campaign finance laws are crucial for candidates and political organizations to engage effectively and ethically in Ohio’s political process.
Reference
Sracic, Paul A., and William C. Binning. 2015. Chapter 9 – Direct Democracy in Ohio in Ohio Government and Politics. Washington DC: CQ Press.