CLC Urges Court To Uphold Colorado Disclosure Rules

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Eyes of George Washington from a one dollar bill peering through a torn black piece of paper.

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) has filed an amicus brief in Colorado Union of Taxpayers, Inc. et al v. Griswold et al in support of Colorado voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence their votes in ballot measure elections.

The provisions challenged by Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) give voters in Colorado key information necessary for effective participation in their state’s democratic process while taking care not to burden smaller-scale efforts to influence the passage or defeat of state ballot measures.

For decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently recognized the important interests served by electoral transparency requirements, such as those at issue in this case, and the Court has repeatedly voiced approval of disclosure related to ballot issue advocacy specifically.

At the heart of this case is the voters’ right to know who is spending money to sway their opinions. Disclosure enables voters to fully evaluate the arguments to which they are being subjected and make informed decisions at the polls.

The Colorado transparency rules challenged in this case, which require disclosure from groups spending to influence the passage or defeat of state ballot measures, are fully consistent with the Constitution and support the voters’ critical right to know who is trying to influence their vote.

Brendan is a Senior Communications Manager for Campaign Finance and Ethics issues at CLC.
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