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      Understanding public funding of presidential elections

Understanding public funding of presidential elections Under the Internal Revenue Code, qualified presidential candidates may opt to receive money from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which is a fund on the books of the U.S. Treasury. The FEC administers the public funding program by determining which candidates are eligible to receive the funds. The Secretary of the Treasury makes the payments. Committees receiving public funds must agree to comply with spending limits and to keep detailed records of their financial activities. After the elections, the FEC audits each publicly funded committee. If an audit reveals that a committee has exceeded the spending limits or used public funds for impermissible purposes, the committee must pay back an appropriate amount to the U.S. Treasury. For general information on public funding, please visit our public funding information page.
 For presidential candidates and their authorized committees
      Registering as a candidate
          
          Taking in receipts
          
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 Public funding of presidential primary candidates
          
            Public funding of general election candidates
          
            Additional information for all publicly funded candidates
 Public funding of presidential primary candidates
        Eligible candidates in the presidential primaries may receive public funds to match the private contributions they raise. While a candidate may raise money from many different sources, only contributions from individuals are matchable; contributions from PACs and party committees are not. To participate in the primary matching fund program, a presidential candidate must demonstrate broad-based support by raising more than $5,000 in matchable contributions in each of 20 different states. Candidates must agree to use public funds only for campaign expenses, and they must comply with spending limits.
        Establishing eligibility to receive presidential primary matching fund payments
        
           Using presidential primary matching funds and paying for qualified campaign expenses
        
           Complying with primary spending limits Public funding of general election candidates
        Major party nominees are eligible for a general election grant. The basic $20 million grant is adjusted for inflation each presidential election year. By 2008 (the last year a major party candidate chose to accept a general election grant), that amount had grown to $84.1 million. (The general election grant for 2024 is $123.5 million.)Nominees who accept the funds must agree not to raise private contributions (from individuals, PACs or party committees), apart from certain exceptions, and to limit their campaign expenditures to the amount of public funds they receive. They may use the funds only for campaign expenses.A minor or new party presidential candidate may qualify for some public funds after the general election if that candidate receives at least five percent of the popular vote.
        Receiving a public funding grant for the general election
        
           Using the general election public funds grant and paying for qualified campaign expenses
        
           Raising funds for legal and accounting expenses (GELAC fund) Additional information for all publicly funded candidates
        These pages contain additional information pertinent to all presidential campaigns seeking public funding.
        Public funding and vice presidential candidates
        
           Providing transportation and services to media, Secret Service and national security staff
        
           Additional recordkeeping for publicly funded candidates
        
           Complying with audit and repayment requirements
        
           Debts owed by publicly funded candidates
        
           Winding down publicly funded presidential candidate committees


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This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


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