Public Subsidy Program
Political parties and candidates for legislative and constitutional offices who agree to limit their campaign spending may qualify to receive direct subsidies from the state and allow contributors to have their contributions refunded by the state up to $50 per year per contributor. The purpose of the program is to decrease reliance on large contributors with an alternate source of financing for campaigns, limit the overall spending for election campaigns, and assist the political parties with expenditures that benefit three or more candidates.

Participating candidates must register a principal campaign committee, agree to abide by spending limits for the office sought, limit the candidate's personal contributions, return public subsidy that exceeds campaign spending, raise a specified amount of money in the election year, promise to spend 50% of the general account payment two weeks before the general election, and win the primary election. Payments are made to candidates following the primary election. Party account payments vary among candidates of a political party. General account payments are the same for each candidate for a particular office. Direct payments to state party committees are paid monthly.

Public Subsidy Agreements are in effect from January 1st following a general election to December 31st following the next general election for that office. A candidate whose opponent does not sign a Public Subsidy Agreement may be released from spending limits under certain conditions. Public subsidy for candidates in special elections is paid following the primary election in the same amount as was paid to candidates for the same office at the last general election.

Contributions from Minnesota taxpayers to qualifying candidates and political parties are refunded by the state up to $50 per contributor per year. The candidate or party gives the contributor a receipt and the contributor returns the receipt with an application form to the Department of Revenue to request the refund. Contribution refunds are available during each year the candidate has a spending limit agreement in effect.

Call Gary Goldsmith at 651-296-1721 or Jeff Sigurdson at 651-296-1720 if you have questions about Minnesota's public subsidy program. You may also use the Board's toll-free number: 800-657-3889.