The 2024 election cycle will be the first election where candidates running for statewide office in New York can opt into the state's new small donor public financing program. Laura Ladd Bierman and Erica Smitka of the League of Women Voters of New York join Policy Outsider host Alex Morse to discuss the details of the new program and the history of campaign finance reform in the state. The conversation examines how public financing intends to level the electoral playing field of state elections, increase representation, and reduce the influence of big money in politics. The episode also covers what other reforms can help strengthen elections and make campaign finance more equitable throughout the state.
Guests:
Laura Ladd Bierman, executive director, League of Women Voters of New York
Erica Smitka, deputy director, League of Women Voters of New York
Learn More:
League of Women Voters of New York
New York State Public Campaign Finance Board
Small Donor Public Financing: A Tool for Empowering New Yorkers in the Age of Citizens United
