HB1273 Summary

• Establishes the "Lincoln Act" creating a voluntary public financing program for candidates for Illinois executive branch constitutional offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer) and General Assembly members (State Senators and Representatives), administered by the State Board of Elections beginning in 2011.

• Creates the Citizens' Election Fund as a special fund financed through an income tax check-off provision allowing taxpayers to contribute to the fund on their state income tax returns.

• Candidates participating as "clean election candidates" must collect qualifying contributions from a set number of natural persons ($500 maximum per person) and agree to contribution limits; in exchange they receive grants from the fund with matching funds available for contributions exceeding initial thresholds.

• Establishes tiered grant amounts based on office sought, ranging from $25,000 for uncontested State Representative primary elections to $3,000,000 for gubernatorial general elections, with adjustments for inflation every 2 years beginning January 1, 2013.

• Amends the Election Code to require the State Board of Elections to publish an Internet voters' guide before every general election (not just statewide elections) that includes State Senator and State Representative candidates and identifies all clean election candidates participating in the public financing program.