Maine Question 1, the Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative, was a citizen-initiated referendum measure in Maine. The referendum was held on the Maine ballot during the 2024 United States elections in Maine.
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Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office? | ||||||||||
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Super PACs, or independent expenditure-only committees, are a type of political action committee that are allowed to raise and spend unlimited sums of money to promote or oppose a political candidate. Unlike normal political action committees, they are not allowed to contribute directly to the campaign of a candidate or their party. [1]
In August 2023, citizens of Maine organized a ballot question committee, Maine Citizens to End SuperPACs, to gather enough signatures as required by the Maine Constitution to get the initiative on the ballots. [2] In October 2023, Citizens to End SuperPACs was registered as a political action committee to support the passage of the referendum. [3]
The initiative is worded to focus on limiting individual contributions to Super PACs, rather than limiting the spending of Super PACs on campaigns. This is an area the Supreme Court hasn't ruled on. [4]
The initiative has received widespread support across Maine. Local newspapers such as The Morning Sentinel and The Portland Press Herald have endorsed the measure, along with current U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden. [5]
In October 2024, YouTube account More Perfect Union uploaded a video outlining the ballot measure and its possible effects on Super PAC reform, increasing awareness of a statewide initiative. [6]
Citizens to End SuperPACs received $1,519,338.70 in campaign contributions. [7]
The initiative passed on November 5, 2024, during the 2024 United States elections. 74.9% of voters voted for the amendment, while 25.1% did not. [8]
The initiative is expected to be legally challenged, and it is possible that a challenge may be used to challenge Citizens United v. FEC. [9] As of January 2025, no party has challenged the passage of the referendum.
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