[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5351 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5351
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to provide for public
financing for Federal elections through vouchers directed by eligible
voters to the candidates of their choice.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 6, 2026
Mrs. Gillibrand introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to provide for public
financing for Federal elections through vouchers directed by eligible
voters to the candidates of their choice.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Elections Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY DOLLARS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52
U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``TITLE V--DEMOCRACY DOLLARS PROGRAM
``Sec. 501. Definitions.
``Sec. 502. Distribution of democracy dollars to eligible individuals.
``Sec. 503. Requirements for participating candidates.
``Sec. 504. Use of democracy dollars.
``Sec. 505. Administration.
``Sec. 506. Funding.
``SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.
``For purposes of this title:
``(1) Applicable election series.--The term `applicable
election series' means, with respect to any Federal office, any
of the following elections for such office during an election
cycle:
``(A) A primary election (including a primary
election held for the selection of delegates to a
national nominating convention of a political party and
a primary held for the expression of a preference for
the nomination of an individual for election to the
office of President) for nomination to Federal office.
``(B) A convention or caucus of a political party
that has authority to nominate a candidate to Federal
office.
``(C) A general election, a special election, or a
runoff election for Federal office.
``(2) Democracy dollars.--
``(A) In general.--The term `democracy dollars'
means a voucher (having such form as determined by the
Commission) that is a Congressional democracy dollar, a
Senate democracy dollar, or a Presidential democracy
dollar.
``(B) Congressional democracy dollar.--A
Congressional democracy dollar is a democracy dollar
that is restricted such that--
``(i) it may only be transferred to a
qualified candidate for the office of
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress; and
``(ii) in the case of any election cycle
beginning in 2030 or later, may only be
transferred to a qualified candidate for such
office for a district in the State in which the
eligible individual to whom it is distributed
is a qualified resident.
``(C) Senate democracy dollar.--A Senate democracy
dollar is a democracy dollar that is restricted such
that--
``(i) it may only be transferred to a
qualified candidate for the office of Senator;
and
``(ii) in the case of any election cycle
beginning in 2030 or later, may only be
transferred to a qualified candidate for such
office for the State in which the eligible
individual to whom it is distributed is a
qualified resident.
``(D) Presidential democracy dollar.--A
Presidential democracy dollar is a democracy dollar
that is restricted such that it may only be transferred
to qualified candidates for the offices of President or
Vice President.
``(3) Democracy dollar account.--The term `democracy dollar
account' means an account of a participating candidate that
consists only of amounts paid under section 504(a)(3) and that
meets such other requirements as established by the Commission.
``(4) Election cycle.--The term `election cycle' means the
2-year period beginning on January 1 of each odd-numbered year.
``(5) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual'
means, with respect to any election cycle, an individual who--
``(A) is a citizen or national of the United
States; and
``(B) has attained the age of 18.
``(6) Participating candidate.--The term `participating
candidate' means a candidate who is certified by the Commission
under section 503.
``(7) Qualified resident.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the term `qualified resident' means,
with respect to any State, an eligible individual whose
primary residence is located in such State.
``(B) Exceptions.--
``(i) Students.--Any eligible individual
who is a full-time student attending a post-
secondary educational institution may elect to
treat the State in which such institution is
located as the State in which such individual
is a qualified resident.
``(ii) Individuals living abroad.--Any
eligible individual whose primary residence is
outside the United States shall be treated as a
qualified resident of--
``(I) in the case of an eligible
individual who is qualified to vote in
a State, the State in which the
individual is qualified to vote; or
``(II) in the case of any other
eligible individual, the last State in
which such individual was domiciled
before leaving the United States.
``SEC. 502. DISTRIBUTION OF DEMOCRACY DOLLARS TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
``(a) Process and Methods for Distribution.--
``(1) In general.--Upon request of an eligible individual
who is a qualified resident of a State in which an election for
Federal office (other than a runoff election) is held and who
is registered to vote in such election (in States where
registration is required as a condition of voting), the
Commission shall provide to such individual democracy dollars
that may be used only in such election in the amount determined
under subsection (b).
``(2) Limitations.--
``(A) Time for making request.--Any request under
subsection (a) shall be made--
``(i) no earlier than the first day of the
election cycle in which the election occurs;
and
``(ii) no later than 10 days before the
date of the election to which it relates.
In the case of elections to nominate a candidate for
election to a Federal office which do not occur on the
same day, clause (ii) shall be applied by using the
date of the last such election occurring in the State.
``(B) Limitation on distributions.--Except in the
case of a special election, the Commission shall not
provide democracy dollars to any individual for more
than one primary election and one general election for
each of the following offices:
``(i) The office of Representative in, or
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the
Congress.
``(ii) The office of Senator.
``(iii) The office of President and Vice
President.
``(3) Methods.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), democracy dollars shall be
distributed in such manner as the Commission determines
appropriate.
``(B) Pilot program for mailed democracy dollars.--
The Commission shall conduct a pilot program for the
distribution of democracy dollars through the mail. If
the Commission determines that such program is a cost
effective way to expand participation and attract a
more diverse group of participants, the Commission
shall expand such program for future elections.
``(b) Determination of Type and Amount of Democracy Dollars
Provided.--
``(1) In general.--The amount determined under this section
is--
``(A) in the case of any election (other than a
runoff election) for the office of Representative in,
or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress,
the Congressional amount;
``(B) in the case of any election (other than a
runoff election) for nomination to the office of
Senator, the Senate amount; and
``(C) in the case of any election for nomination to
the office of, or the office of, President or Vice
President, the Presidential amount.
``(2) Amounts.--For purposes of this title:
``(A) Congressional amount.--
``(i) In general.--The Congressional amount
is an amount equal to $100.
``(ii) Increase.--In the case of any
election cycle beginning after 2030, the amount
determined under clause (i) for any election
cycle shall be the sum of the dollar amount in
effect under such clause for the preceding
election cycle increased by the product of--
``(I) 75 percent (or the percentage
specified pursuant to section 505(c)
for such election cycle) of the
percentage (if any) by which--
``(aa) the average of the
total amount of contributions
received during the preceding
election cycle by each
candidate for the office of
Representative in, or Delegate
or Resident Commissioner to,
the Congress who is not a
participating candidate;
exceeds
``(bb) the average of the
total amount of contributions
received during the preceding
election cycle by each
participating candidate for the
office of Representative in, or
Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress;
and
``(II) the dollar amount in effect
under clause (i) for the preceding
election cycle.
``(iii) Inflation adjustment.--In the case
of any election cycle beginning after 2030 for
which there is no increase under clause (ii),
the Congressional amount in effect for such
election cycle shall be the sum of--
``(I) the greater of the dollar
amount specified in clause (i) or the
dollar amount the amount in effect for
the most recent election cycle for
which there was such an increase; plus
``(II) the percent increase
determined under section 315(c),
determined as if the base period were--
``(aa) if there was no
prior increase in such dollar
amount pursuant to clause (ii),
2029; or
``(bb) in any other case,
the calendar year immediately
preceding the first calendar
year in the election cycle for
which the most recent such
prior increase occurred.
``(B) Senate amount.--
``(i) In general.--The Senate amount is an
amount equal to $100.
``(ii) Increase.--In the case of any
election cycle beginning after 2030, the amount
determined under clause (i) for any election
cycle shall be the sum of the dollar amount in
effect under such clause for the preceding
election cycle increased by the product of--
``(I) 75 percent (or the percentage
specified pursuant to section 505(c)
for such election cycle) of the
percentage (if any) by which--
``(aa) the average of the
total amount of contributions
received during the preceding
election cycle by each
candidate for the office of
Senator who is not a
participating candidate;
exceeds
``(bb) the average of the
total amount of contributions
received during the preceding
election cycle by each
participating candidate for the
office of Senator; and
``(II) the dollar amount in effect
under clause (i) for the preceding
election cycle.
``(iii) Inflation adjustment.--In the case
of any election cycle beginning after 2030 for
which there is no increase under clause (ii),
the Senate amount in effect for such election
cycle shall be the sum of--
``(I) the greater of the dollar
amount specified in clause (i) or the
dollar amount in effect for the most
recent election cycle for which there
was such an increase; plus
``(II) the percent increase
determined under section 315(c),
determined as if the base period were--
``(aa) if there was no
prior increase in such dollar
amount pursuant to clause (ii),
2029; or
``(bb) in any other case,
the calendar year immediately
preceding the first calendar
year in the election cycle for
which the most recent such
prior increase occurred.
``(C) Presidential amount.--
``(i) In general.--The Presidential amount
is an amount equal to $100.
``(ii) Increase.--The amount determined
under clause (i) for any election cycle
following the election cycle beginning on
January 1, 2029, in which there is an election
for the office of President shall be the sum of
the dollar amount in effect under such clause
for the preceding election cycle increased by
the product of--
``(I) 75 percent (or the percentage
specified pursuant to section 505(c)
for such election cycle) of the
percentage (if any) by which--
``(aa) the average of the
total amount of contributions
received during the preceding
election cycle in which there
was an election for the office
of President by each candidate
for such office who is not a
participating candidate;