For the second year in a row, the Maine Green Party has received more revenue from the state’s income-tax check-off choice for political parties than the Maine Republican Party received. State income tax returns that have been sent in during 2007 yield $12,146 to the Democratic Party; $4,467 to the Green Party; $4,349 to the Republican Party.
Twelve states let state income taxpayers choose to send a small donation to the political party of their choice, although in Ohio and North Carolina, only the Democratic and Republican Parties are ever listed (even when there are other ballot-qualified parties).
Actually, if I’m not mistaken, the $1 check box for Ohio goes to the “political party fund” rather than a specific party. Of course, that means only the D’s and R’s can draw from the fund because they are the only ballot-qualified parties in Ohio.
… only the Democratic and Republican Parties are ever listed (even when there are other ballot-qualified parties).
Sounds unconstitutional to me. Has this ever been challenged in court? Thanks in advance for the information!
Is there somewhere that I can get a list of those 10 other states that allow Income Tax Check-Off’s to specific political parties?
The paper version of Ballot Access News always carries the amounts for each party, usually in the August issue. For the 2006 figures, choose the August 1 2006 printed issue from the right side of the web page. Then find the tax chart in the Table of Contents.
As to Ohio, even when other parties are on the ballot, only parties that polled 20% in the last election get to share the money. Ohio is also the only state in which the taxpayer doesn’t get to choose a party; the Dems & Reps divide the money equally.