More on Campaign Finance reform

In a previous post it was suggested that contributors to campaigns have 60% of their contribution go to the candidate of their choice and that 40% go to their opponent. This will work ok if there is only one opponent. But how does the 40% get distributed if there are 2 or more candidates? Let's say there are two certified opponents at the time the contribution is made. The first choice still gets 60%. The certified opponent who entered the race the earliest would get 60% of the 40% and the other certified opponent would get 40% of the 40%. If both entered on the same date, each would get 50% of the 40%.

If there are three certified opponents at the time of the contribution, the first choice would still get 60%. If all three entered the race on the same day, each would get one-third of the 40%. This would apply also if there were even more than three opponents. If all entered on different dates, only the two earliest opponents would get any of the contribution.

If an opponent or the first choice should withdraw from the contest after receiving contributor money, any money not spent could be turned over to the election commission to distribute in accordance with the above principles.

No system of campaign finance is likely to be totally fair to all. The above system would be a step in the right direction.