New Poll Shows Majority of Virginians Support Campaign Finance Reform

By Reeves Simmons.
Updated Jan 4, 2022

RICHMOND, Va. (PRWEB) January 04, 2022 - A majority of Virginians support implementing campaign finance reform, according to a recent poll by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University. An overwhelming 78% of Virginians support reducing money from big campaign donors, and 88% of Virginians support public disclosure of contributions, the poll revealed.

The poll, generated by the Wason Center, was commissioned by Money Out Virginia, the Virginia chapter of American Promise, and VaOurWay. The goal was to gauge Virginians opinions about campaign finance reform after the 2021 election cycle, which was the most expensive in Virginia's history. A record $7 million was contributed by undisclosed donors, and Virginia was rated 46 out of 50 in the 2020 S.W.A.M.P Index, a ranking of states based on accountability and transparency in ethics and related legislation.

The poll results should be of interest to Virginia leaders, as the start of the 2022 Virginia General Assembly is just a week away, and campaign finance reform legislation will be introduced during the session. Bills seeking to restrict the personal use of campaign funds, strengthen current disclosure provisions, enhance oversight authority of the State Board of Elections and limit contributions have been sponsored by members of both parties.

The poll, which included seven questions about campaign finance in Virginia, was conducted between Nov. 3 and Dec. 2, 2021. Polling was conducted by phone, with 826 households targeted. This included 364 households on landlines and 462 households on cell phones.

The polling confirms voters' perceptions that unchecked political spending in Virginia by corporations, unions, special interest groups and wealthy individuals is overwhelming the voices of average citizens. As a result, candidates devote an increasing amount of time to fundraising, rather than engaging with voters and constituents. Big spending weakens the ability of Virginians to freely and fairly elect a representative government of, by and for the people.

These results indicate that Virginia voters view campaign finance reform as an important issue,'' said Dr. Bromley-Trujillo, Wason Center Research Director. Moreover, Republicans and Democrats actually find themselves on the same side of several campaign finance reforms, as shown in this survey.

Virginia does not currently limit campaign contributions in any capacity; polling showed that 75% of Virginians support limits to the amount of money coming from big campaign donors such as corporations, individuals and political action committees in state and local elections. When it comes to banning political contributions from corporations specifically, 56% of Virginians support banning the practice. Polling also shows that 73% of Virginians support banning the personal use of campaign funds, which is not currently prohibited in Virginia.

'These polling results reveal that Virginia voters recognize that good governance is a critical barometer for our democracy, said Shruti Shah, President and CEO of the Coalition for Integrity.

Money Out Virginia works to decrease the influence money has on politics by supporting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would give states more power in regulating election spending and supporting campaign finance reform in Virginia. Poll results revealed that 59% of Virginians support that constitutional amendment.

Virginia citizens like myself seek campaign finance reform to enable our elected legislators to better reflect the interests and will of the average citizens of the Commonwealth, said Nancy Morgan, coordinator of the Virginia chapter of American Promise.

Virginians, like voters across America, want more accountability and less corruption in politics. They are tired of special interests rigging the system in their favor, said Trevor Potter, president and founder of?Campaign Legal Center (CLC).?Virginians and voters nationwide have a right to know whos spending big money to influence our votes and our government. Its time to pass state and federal reforms to boost transparency and protect our First Amendment rights to have our voices heard in government.

Interested in learning more? Attend our press conference on January 4th at 11AM. Check out the MoneyOutVA website for more details on the survey results.