Methodologyeci-v0

ECIElection Campaign-Finance Index

How well is money in politics regulated and disclosed?

15 datapoints · 5 dimensions · 94 jurisdictions scored

Jurisdiction Scores

JurisdictionScoreRaw
Montanaus-mt88.9%16/18
Kentuckyus-ky83.3%15/18
Estoniaee80.6%15/18
Latvialv72.2%13/18
Floridaus-fl69.4%13/18
Mexicomx66.7%12/18
Marylandus-md66.7%12/18
United Statesus63.9%12/18
Maineus-me63.9%12/18
Rhode Islandus-ri63.9%12/18
Austriaat61.1%11/18
Icelandis61.1%11/18
Moldovamd61.1%11/18
Alaskaus-ak61.1%11/18
Connecticutus-ct61.1%11/18
Kansasus-ks61.1%11/18
Nebraskaus-ne61.1%11/18
New Yorkus-ny61.1%11/18
Ohious-oh61.1%11/18
West Virginiaus-wv61.1%11/18
Argentinaar58.3%11/18
Australiaau58.3%11/18
Germanyde58.3%11/18
Croatiahr58.3%11/18
Arizonaus-az58.3%11/18
Indianaus-in58.3%11/18
Coloradous-co57.7%8/13
Greecegr55.6%10/18
Maltamt55.6%10/18
Turkeytr55.6%10/18
Arkansasus-ar55.6%10/18
Michiganus-mi55.6%10/18
Washingtonus-wa55.6%10/18
Oregonus-or53.1%9/16
Portugalpt52.8%10/18
Massachusettsus-ma52.8%10/18
North Carolinaus-nc52.8%10/18
North Dakotaus-nd52.8%10/18
Francefr50.0%9/18
United Kingdomgb50.0%9/17
Lithuanialt50.0%9/18
Missourius-mo50.0%9/18
New Mexicous-nm50.0%9/18
South Carolinaus-sc50.0%9/18
South Dakotaus-sd50.0%9/18
Brazilbr47.2%9/18
Czechiacz47.2%9/18
Netherlandsnl47.2%9/18
Serbiasr47.2%9/18
Canadaca44.4%8/18
Iowaus-ia44.4%8/18
Louisianaus-la44.4%8/18
New Jerseyus-nj44.4%8/18
Pennsylvaniaus-pa44.4%8/18
Tennesseeus-tn44.4%8/18
Utahus-ut44.4%8/18
Virginiaus-va44.4%8/18
Polandpl41.7%8/18
Nevadaus-nv41.2%7/17
Delawareus-de38.9%7/18
Illinoisus-il38.9%7/18
Oklahomaus-ok38.9%7/18
New Hampshireus-nh33.3%6/18
Texasus-tx33.3%6/18
Vermontus-vt33.3%6/18
Idahous-id32.4%6/17
Hawaiius-hi30.6%6/18
Spaines27.8%5/18
Alabamaus-al27.8%5/18
Minnesotaus-mn27.8%5/18
Mississippius-ms27.8%5/18
Bulgariabg25.0%5/18
Kazakhstankz25.0%5/18
Russiaru25.0%5/18
Wyomingus-wy25.0%5/18
Irelandie23.3%4/15
Madagascarmg19.4%4/18
Norwayno19.4%4/18
Ukraineua19.4%4/18
Finlandfi16.7%3/18
Georgiage16.7%3/18
Denmarkdk13.9%3/18
Armeniaam11.1%2/18
Belgiumbe11.1%2/18
Belarusby11.1%2/18
Greenlandgl11.1%2/18
Luxembourglu11.1%2/18
Californiaus-ca11.1%2/18
Romaniaro8.3%2/18
Swedense8.3%2/18
Georgiaus-ga8.3%2/18
Chinacn6.7%1/15
Wisconsinus-wi5.6%1/18
South Africaza5.6%1/18

Datapoint × Jurisdiction Heatmap

Each row is a datapoint; each column a jurisdiction. Color encodes the percent of the maximum score achieved. Cells without data are blank.

Datapoints — by Dimension

Contributions 3 datapoints

CodeNameus-mtus-kyeelvus-flmxus-mdusus-meus-riatismdus-akus-ctus-ksus-neus-nyus-ohus-wvaraudehrus-azus-inus-cogrmttrus-arus-mius-waus-orptus-maus-ncus-ndfrgbltus-mous-nmus-scus-sdbrcznlsrcaus-iaus-laus-njus-paus-tnus-utus-vaplus-nvus-deus-ilus-okus-nhus-txus-vtus-idus-hiesus-alus-mnus-msbgkzruus-wyiemgnouafigedkambebyglluus-caroseus-gacnus-wiza
CONT.1Contribution limit framework codified
If contribution limits exist, are they set by statute (not administrative discretion)? If no limits, is that absence explicit in statute?
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CONT.2Independent expenditure rules
Are independent-expenditure rules (third-party spending separate from candidate committees) codified in statute?
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CONT.3Anonymous-contribution treatment
Are anonymous contributions (cash below the threshold, etc.) addressed in statute with a defined disposition (returned, forfeited, etc.)?
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Disclosure 4 datapoints

CodeNameus-mtus-kyeelvus-flmxus-mdusus-meus-riatismdus-akus-ctus-ksus-neus-nyus-ohus-wvaraudehrus-azus-inus-cogrmttrus-arus-mius-waus-orptus-maus-ncus-ndfrgbltus-mous-nmus-scus-sdbrcznlsrcaus-iaus-laus-njus-paus-tnus-utus-vaplus-nvus-deus-ilus-okus-nhus-txus-vtus-idus-hiesus-alus-mnus-msbgkzruus-wyiemgnouafigedkambebyglluus-caroseus-gacnus-wiza
DISC.1Disclosure threshold in statute
Is the disclosure threshold (amount above which contributions must be reported) defined in statute, not regulation?
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DISC.2Enumerated filing schedule
Is the filing schedule (pre-election, post-election, quarterly, etc.) enumerated in statute with specific deadlines?
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DISC.3Disclosure of contributor identity
Does statute require contributor name, address, occupation, and employer be disclosed for contributions above the threshold?
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DISC.4Public access to filings
Are campaign-finance filings legally required to be publicly accessible online within a defined time of filing?
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Enforcement 3 datapoints

CodeNameus-mtus-kyeelvus-flmxus-mdusus-meus-riatismdus-akus-ctus-ksus-neus-nyus-ohus-wvaraudehrus-azus-inus-cogrmttrus-arus-mius-waus-orptus-maus-ncus-ndfrgbltus-mous-nmus-scus-sdbrcznlsrcaus-iaus-laus-njus-paus-tnus-utus-vaplus-nvus-deus-ilus-okus-nhus-txus-vtus-idus-hiesus-alus-mnus-msbgkzruus-wyiemgnouafigedkambebyglluus-caroseus-gacnus-wiza
ENF.1Penalty schedule codified
Are penalties for campaign-finance violations defined in statute with specified amounts (civil) and/or criminal grades?
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ENF.2Enforcement body independence
Is the enforcement body (election commission, attorney general, campaign-finance regulator) appointed by multi-branch process and protected from in-cycle political control?
1/11/11/10.5/11/11/10/11/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/10/11/10.5/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/11/10/10/10/10/11/10.5/10/10/10.5/11/11/10/10/10.5/10/10/10.5/11/10/10/11/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/11/10.5/10/11/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/1
ENF.3Private right of action
Does statute provide a private right of action (citizen or party suit) for campaign-finance violations?
0.5/10/10/10/11/11/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/11/11/10/10/10.5/10/11/10/10/11/11/10/11/11/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/11/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/11/10/11/10/10/10/11/10/11/10/11/10.5/10/10/10/1

Foreign Source 3 datapoints

CodeNameus-mtus-kyeelvus-flmxus-mdusus-meus-riatismdus-akus-ctus-ksus-neus-nyus-ohus-wvaraudehrus-azus-inus-cogrmttrus-arus-mius-waus-orptus-maus-ncus-ndfrgbltus-mous-nmus-scus-sdbrcznlsrcaus-iaus-laus-njus-paus-tnus-utus-vaplus-nvus-deus-ilus-okus-nhus-txus-vtus-idus-hiesus-alus-mnus-msbgkzruus-wyiemgnouafigedkambebyglluus-caroseus-gacnus-wiza
FOR.1Foreign-source prohibition
Is direct foreign contribution to a candidate or campaign committee prohibited by statute?
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FOR.2Indirect / pass-through foreign rules
Are indirect foreign-source channels (foreign nationals via domestic entities, foreign-controlled LLCs, etc.) addressed in statute?
2/22/22/22/21/21/22/21/22/20/21/21/21/22/21/22/21/20/21/21/20/21/20/21/20/21/21/21/20/21/21/20/21/20/20/20/22/20/21/22/21/20/20/20/21/21/20/20/21/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/21/20/21/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/22/20/20/21/21/20/22/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/2
FOR.3Foreign-source verification
Are campaign committees required by statute to verify contributors are not foreign-source (vs. relying on contributor self-attestation alone)?
1/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/1

Traceability 2 datapoints

CodeNameus-mtus-kyeelvus-flmxus-mdusus-meus-riatismdus-akus-ctus-ksus-neus-nyus-ohus-wvaraudehrus-azus-inus-cogrmttrus-arus-mius-waus-orptus-maus-ncus-ndfrgbltus-mous-nmus-scus-sdbrcznlsrcaus-iaus-laus-njus-paus-tnus-utus-vaplus-nvus-deus-ilus-okus-nhus-txus-vtus-idus-hiesus-alus-mnus-msbgkzruus-wyiemgnouafigedkambebyglluus-caroseus-gacnus-wiza
TRACE.1Records-retention requirement
Are campaign committees required by statute to retain records (contributor lists, expenditure documentation, bank statements) for a defined period?
1/11/10.5/10.5/11/10.5/11/11/11/11/11/10.5/10.5/11/11/11/10/10.5/10.5/10.5/11/11/11/10.5/11/11/11/10.5/11/11/10/10.5/10/10/10/10.5/10.5/10/10.5/10/10.5/10/10/11/10.5/11/11/10/11/11/11/11/11/10/11/10/10/11/10/10/10/11/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10.5/10/10.5/10/10.5/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/10.5/10/10/10/1
TRACE.2Audit access
Are campaign-committee records subject to mandatory audit (post-election random sample, threshold-triggered audit, or routine cycle) under statute?
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About this score

Per-jurisdiction scores are SUM(score) / SUM(max_score) across the datapoints above. Each datapoint has a scoring rule (binary / ordinal / etc.) defined in the methodology, and an evidence quote pinned to the exact statute section that justifies the score. See the per-datapoint page for the full rationale and the source citation.

≥ 50%70.0% strong30–50%40.0% moderate15–30%20.0% gap< 15%5.0% minimal