Ballot measure campaign finance, 2014
In 2014, 75 measures raised a total of $467 million in contributions. The year saw fewer ballot measures than previous even-numbered years, though the total amount raised $35 million more than 2010 but $24 million lower than 2012.
Overview
- Main article: 2014 ballot measures
2014 saw only 158 measures placed on the ballot, which was unusually low. The 75 measures with some form of finance activity raised $467 million in contributions, which was $33 million above 2010 and 2012 averages.
Healthcare, gambling and insurance were the topics that raised the most money. Several states had individual contributions of more than $1 million: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts and Oregon.
How campaign finance works
Some ballot measures have no campaign finance activity.
Of the 158 ballot measures in 2014, 40 were non-initiated measures, which typically see few or no contributions due to their technical or arcane subject matters. These include measures referred by the legislature or another body of government. Only about 18 percent of 2014 contributions went to these measures, where the money was largely used for ballot measures related to government finances and taxes.
Citizen initiatives
Citizen initiatives—which often deal with controversial subjects—raise the bulk of funds. The campaigns in support or opposition to the measures raise vast sums to pay for media ads, polls, mailers, large petition efforts, public signage and rallies. In 2014, 35 initiatives accounted for about 82 percent of all contributions.
Supporters of citizen initiatives must also submit a required number of valid petition signatures before they can qualify for the ballot. Ballotpedia tracks the costs per required signature (CPRS), which in 2014 worked out to an average of $3 spent per required signature across all initiatives.
2014 compared to recent years
2014 measures raised the second-highest total contributions for any year since 2010 (adjusted for inflation); 2012 measures raised the most. Even-years historically raise more funds than odd-years.
Ballotpedia also measures the average contribution amounts per measure (for measures that have raised $10,000 or more). Here too, 2014 falls in the middle of the height set in 2012 and the nadir in 2013.
| 2010-2014 contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Grand total contributions | Total for measures w/ $10K or more raised | # measures w/ $10K or more raised | Contribution Average Per Measure[1] |
| 2014 | $467 million | $367.6 million | 15 | $31 million |
| 2013 | $49 million | $41.8 million | 2 | $24.7 million |
| 2012 | $491 million | $287.7 million | 8 | $61 million |
| 2011 | $88.5 million | $76 million | 2 | $44 million |
| 2010 | $432.5 million | $347 million | 16 | $27 million |
Contributions
- Main article: 2014 post-election ballot measure campaign contributions
A total of about $467 million was raised from support and opposition campaigns in 2014.
| Total contributions to ballot measures by state | |
Top 5
Top 5 states
- $201 million - California
- $53.7 million - Oregon
- $52.3 million - Colorado
- $32.4 million - Massachusetts
- $20.8 million - Florida
Top 5 measures
- $70 million - California Proposition 46
- $63 million - California Proposition 45
- $35.6 million - Colorado Amendment 68
- $32 million - Oregon Measure 92
- $22.5 million - California Proposition 48
Contributions by topic of measure
Five contentious topics accounted for $295.7 million, or about 64 percent, of contributions: healthcare, gambling, insurance, business regulation and taxes.
Contributions by type of measure
Of the 10 measures in 2014 with the highest donations, six were citizen initiatives and two were veto referendums. Only two were legislative referrals.
Initiatives, including veto referendums, received about $335 million, or 82 percent, of all 2014 contributions.
Top donors and contributors
- Main article: 2014's top contributors
Although ballot measures appeared on the ballot in 42 states, only five states had contributors who gave more than $1 million: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts and Oregon. The top single contribution—$19.3 million—to a 2014 ballot measure came from Mile High USA, Inc. for Colorado Amendment 68.
In total, 37 individuals and organizations gave contributions of over $1 million. California had the most ballot measures with such contributions; no top donor contributed to more than one ballot measure.
| Top 3 contributors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contributor | Measure | Amount contributed | Contribution % of measure total |
| Mile High USA, Inc. | Colorado Amend. 68 | $19,316,254 | 54.29% |
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. KP Financial Services |
California Prop. 45 | $18,866,574 | 29.53% |
| Wellpoint, Inc. and Affiliated Entities | California Prop. 45 | $18,866,574 | 29.53% |
Costs
- Main article: 2014 ballot measure petition signature costs
Ballotpedia's cost-per-required-signature (CPRS) analysis compares the amount spent on the petition drive (for those initiatives that pay circulators) to the number of signatures the state requires to qualify an initiative for the ballot.
The CPRS for 2014's certified initiatives and referendums ranged from a $1.05 in Massachusetts to $6.44 in Missouri for state averages and from 24 cents to $8.36 for individual measures.[2]
In total, about $16.9 million was spent on petition signature gathering.
See also
- Campaign finance disclosure rules for ballot measure campaigns
- 2014 ballot measure petition signature costs
- 2014 post-election ballot measure campaign contributions
- 2014 ballot measure campaign expenditure recipients
Footnotes
- ↑ Total contribution amount in YEAR dollars)/(Measures with $10K or more raised) = YEAR Contribution Average Per Measure
- ↑ Note that when the average cost per signature is as low as 24 cents, the explanation is generally that volunteers collected signatures, thus reducing the overall cost of the signatures. Paid petition-signature collectors generally charge a minimum of $1.00 or more per signature, depending on a number of circumstances. Companies also usually charge additional fees to the sponsoring political group, leading to overall CPRS figures that are closer to an average range of $4.00 per signature.
