In 1976, two years after the Presidential Election Campaign Fund checkoff was created, 28 percent of filers opted into the program. The checkoff always gives taxpayers their one opportunity to say how they want a sliver of their taxes to be allocated — to the general treasury or to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. By matching primary campaign contributions up to a certain limit, federal funds would help candidates raise money for their campaigns. Not quite $20 million flowed into the Presidential Election Campaign Fund in 2025. But in the Citizens United environment of near-unlimited private contributions to political candidates, neither the politicians nor the campaign industry have any incentive to push for it.

Source: Washington Post April 12, 2026 17:39 UTC