GET READY TO VOTE

• Why this matters
• What your vote means
• What’s at stake?
• Why now?
• What supporters say
• What opponents say
• Potential financial impact
• Follow the money

Proposition 4 would repeal California's existing ban on the state and most local governments using tax dollars to fund political candidates' campaigns. This would allow those governments to create public campaign-financing programs. It also would triple the maximum fine for campaign contributions by foreign entities.

Why this matters

This could reshape the funding of elections that decide who will lead governments up and down the state.

Here's the official title on the ballot: Repeals prohibition against public funding of election campaigns

Here's the text you’ll see on your ballot:

What your vote means

A "yes" vote means: You want the state and local governments to have the ability to create public funding systems to match donations to candidate election campaigns.

A "no" vote means: You want to keep the prohibition on allowing state and local governments to offer public funding of candidate election campaigns.

What’s at stake?

Supporters say passing Prop. 4 would reduce the influence of big-money interests in politics, by empowering candidates backed by smaller donors. Opponents say it would open the door to taxpayers subsidizing candidates without sufficient limits and that it would be expensive.

If approved, the measure does not allow money meant for education, transportation or public safety to be used for campaigns. Additionally, “candidates can only receive public funds if they show broad-based support in their district and agree to spending limits and other program rules,” according to the state’s voter information guide.

Public financing of campaigns is currently allowed for charter counties and cities. Five charter cities have such programs in place: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley.

Why now?

This measure was put on the ballot by the state Legislature on a party-line vote last year, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposing.

Its authors say public financing is highly popular, with voters “overwhelmingly” approving such measures in charter cities where it’s currently allowed.

The Legislature previously passed a similar measure in 2016, signed into law by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, though a court found it could be enacted only by a vote of all Californians.

What supporters say

• Advocates argue public campaign financing curbs the influence of big-donor money in politics, encourages candidates without deep pockets to run and empowers small donors. Backers also frame it as a matter of local control by letting voters and communities decide for themselves rather than being blocked by a decades-old statewide rule.
  
• Notable supporters: California Democratic Party, League of Women Voters of California, California Nurses Association, California Clean Money Campaign and California Common Cause.

What opponents say

• Critics say the measure would force taxpayers to subsidize the campaigns of politicians who get to set the rules for the money, and would allow thousands of candidates to get taxpayer money. They also argue this wouldn't actually get special-interest money out of campaigns, since it lets candidates collect taxpayer funds and private donations at the same time, with no cap on the number of candidates or total public dollars involved.
  
• Notable opponents: California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and former California Fair Political Practices Commission Chair Dan Schnur.

Potential financial impact

The Legislative Analyst's Office estimates state costs of a few hundred thousand dollars a year to hire lawyers to answer questions from governments considering public financing programs. The cost of any actual public campaign finance program would depend on which governments choose to create one and how they design it. Proposition 4 itself doesn't spend money on campaigns. The full financial analysis is available here.

As a point of comparison, L.A.’s existing public financing program for city candidates is projected to cost $15 million for the current two-year election cycle that ends later this year.

Follow the money