Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-951 (2026)

Clean elections funding

✓ current as of May 2026

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(Caution: 1998 Prop 105 applies)

A. At the beginning of the primary election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of each candidate who qualifies for clean elections funding:

1. For a candidate who qualifies for clean elections funding for a party primary election, an amount equal to the original primary election spending limit.

2. For an independent candidate who qualifies for clean elections funding, an amount equal to seventy percent of the sum of the original primary election spending limit and the original general election spending limit.

3. For a qualified participating candidate who is unopposed for an office in that candidate's primary, in the primary of any other party and by any opposing independent candidate, an amount equal to five dollars times the number of qualifying contributions for that candidate certified by the commission.

B. At any time after the first day of January of an election year, any candidate who has met the requirements of section 16-950 may sign and cause to be filed a nomination paper in the form specified by section 16-311, subsection A, with a nominating petition and signatures, instead of filing such papers after the earliest time set for filing specified by that subsection. Upon such filing and verification of the signatures, the commission shall pay the amount specified in subsection A of this section immediately, rather than waiting for the beginning of the primary election period.

C. At the beginning of the general election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of each candidate who qualifies for clean elections funding for the general election, except those candidates identified in subsection A, paragraph 2 or subsection D of this section, an amount equal to the original general election spending limit.

D. At the beginning of the general election period, the commission shall pay from the fund to the campaign account of a qualified participating candidate who has not received funds pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section and who is unopposed by any other party nominee or any opposing independent candidate an amount equal to five dollars times the number of qualifying contributions for that candidate certified by the commission.

E. The special original general election spending limit, for a candidate who has received funds pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 2 or 3 or subsection D of this section, shall be equal to the amount that the commission is obligated to pay to that candidate.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 2002–2010 · leading case: Clean Elections Inst., Inc. v. Brewer, 99 P.3d 570 (Ariz. 2004).

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Clean Elections Inst., Inc. v. Brewer, 99 P.3d 570 (Ariz. 2004). · cites it 2× “§ 16-951. Second, it administers a voter education program and provides for debates among candidates.”

May v. McNally, 55 P.3d 768 (Ariz. 2002). · cites it 2× “Here, the Clean Elections Act allocates money to all qualifying candidates, regardless of party, position, or message, see A.R.S. § 16-951, and thus the surcharge payers are not linked to any specific message, position, or viewpoint.”

McComish v. Bennett, 611 F.3d 510 (9th Cir. 2010). “Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 16-951. If the participating candidate has a nonparticipating opponent in the primary who spends more than her or his initial grant, or whose expenditures, combined with the value of independent expenditures in opposition to her or his candidacy or in support of…”

Green Party of CT v. Garfield, 537 F. Supp. 2d 359 (D. Conn. 2008). “It provides that qualifying independent candidates receive “an amount equal to seventy percent of the sum of the original primary election spending limit and the original general election spending limit.”

Green Party v. Garfield, 648 F. Supp. 2d 298 (D. Conn. 2009). · cites it 2× “Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 16-951. That lump sum is distributed at the beginning of the primary season and may be used in both primary and general elections.”

Steve May v. Hon. Colleen mcnally/betsey Bayless (Ariz. 2002). · cites it 2× “Here, the Clean Elections Act allocates money to all qualifying candidates, regardless of party, position, or message, see A.R.S. § 16-951, and thus the surcharge payers are not linked to any specific message, position, or viewpoint.”

McComish v. Bennett, 653 F.3d 1106 (9th Cir. 2010). “Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 16-951. If the participating candidate has a nonparticipating opponent in the primary who spends more than her or his initial grant, or whose expenditures, combined with the value of independent expenditures in opposition to her or his candidacy or in support of…”

Clean Elections v. brewer/no Taxpayer (Ariz. 2004). “§ 16-951. Second, it administers a voter education program and provides for debates among candidates.”

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