Secretary of State

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Vermont State Archives

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1902

Corrupt Practices Act (Act #6) prohibited candidates from paying to procure party nomination or paying newspaper publishers for endorsements. Public disclosure of campaign expenditures and contributions was not required.

1916

Primary Act (Act #4, 1915, effective 1916) changed nominating process from party caucus system to direct primary. Candidates for statewide and Federal offices required to file campaign finance reports 10 days after primary. Fines established for violations.

1961

Act #178 limited primary expenses in statewide races to $7500.

1972

Act #259 raised spending limits to $40,000 for primary candidates for governor and $20,000 for other statewide primaries and an equal amount for each category in the General Election. State and Federal candidates required to file reports of expenditures and contributions on multiple reporting dates for both primary and general election.

1976

U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Buckley V. Valeo that spending limits are unconstitutional. Vermont repealed all limitations on expenditures, but retained its constitutionally-permissible limits on contributions to candidates from individuals and political committees (Act #188).

1982

Act #197 clarified that limitations on contributions apply separately to the primary and general elections and that out of state political committees had to follow Vermont law when contributing to statewide candidates.

1988

Act #263 mandated that state representatives and senators and each candidate for county office who spent or received $500 or more had to file campaign finance reports.

1992

Act #156 established voluntary spending limits. Candidates could file an affidavit with the Secretary of State agreeing that their total expenditures would meet the following limits: $400,000 for governor, $100,000 for lieutenant governor, $50,000 for attorney general, and $40,000 for treasurer, secretary of state, and auditor of accounts. State senators and state representatives could also agree to preset limits. To offset the advantage of incumbencies, challengers were allowed to spend 110% of the voluntary limit for each office.

1997

(Act #64) introduced some public funding for campaigns, changed reporting requirements and included limits on expenditures and contributions.