How Much Does Your Vote Cost?


 

Publication Date: June 2000

Publisher: National Institute on Money in State Politics (U.S.)

Author(s): Edwin Bender

Research Area: Politics

Type: Report

Abstract:

Candidates for state legislative and statewide offices raised more than $1.4 billion during the 1998 election cycle, according to data compiled by the National Institute on Money in State Politics. This translates to an average contribution-dollar-per-voter figure of $20.44.

The Institute, a non-partisan organization that collects and examines campaign finance information related to state races, found that, not surprisingly, some of the country's biggest states had the most expensive elections. New York ranked first at $56.69 raised per voter; California was fifth at $35.60; Texas was sixth at $29.21, and Illinois was eighth at $27.13.