Commission certifies federal matching funds for Jill Stein (October 2012)

The Commission has certified Jill Stein’s presidential campaign eligible for $160,389.13 in federal matching funds for the 2012 primary election. The certification is based on the agency’s review of the campaign’s recent matching fund submission, and allows the U.S. Treasury Department to transfer federal funds to Jill Stein for President. To date, the Commission has certified the Green Party nominee eligible for a total of $260,389.13 in matching funds.

Stein is the third candidate to be declared eligible for federal matching funds in 2012. The Commission has certified $351,961.10 in federal matching funds to former Reform Party candidate Charles E. “Buddy” Roemer III and $303,751.20 to Libertarian Party candidate Gary Earl Johnson for the primary.

Roemer, the first 2012 presidential candidate to be declared eligible by the Commission to receive federal matching funds, ended his presidential campaign on May 31. He will be eligible for additional matching funds to the extent that he has debt and additional contributions eligible for matching. Johnson also became eligible for matching funds in May.

To become eligible, candidates must raise a threshold amount of $100,000 by collecting $5,000 in 20 different states in amounts no greater than $250 from any individual. Other requirements to be declared eligible include agreeing to an overall spending limit, abiding by spending limits in each state, using public funds only for legitimate campaign-related expenses, keeping financial records and permitting an extensive campaign audit.

The presidential public funding program is financed through the $3 check-off that appears on individual income tax returns. The program has three elements: grants to parties to help fund their nominating conventions, grants available to nominees to pay for the general election campaign, and matching payments to participating candidates during the primary campaign.

Resources:

• FEC press release
• Press Office Backgrounder on Presidential Election Campaign Fund
• Brochure: Public Funding of Presidential Elections
• Brochure: The $3 Tax Checkoff