New York just changed how state elections will work. Here’s what you need to know.
The New York State Public Finance Commission approved a duo of proposals on Monday that will change how state elections are run.
The first will create a $100 million state-funded public campaign finance system, and the second will change the threshold by which small, grassroots political parties can qualify for the election ballot. The second, in particular, led to an outcry from groups like the Working Families Party. Here’s what you need to know.
Publicly funded campaign finance
The state’s new publicly funded campaign finance system will go into effect in 2026, two years after the next gubernatorial election, and will allow candidates who qualify to receive matching funds.
Public financing of campaigns involves matching small donations to a candidate in an attempt to counterbalance large donations from special interests. New York City has had a matching funds program since 1988, but that state hasn’t followed suit until now.