A clean election is a system of taxpayer-financed political campaigns.
Candidates that qualify by collecting a prescribed number of signatures and $5 contributions from registered voters in their district can agree to not raise or spend any private money during the primary and general elections.
Instead, a set amount of funding for the candidate's campaign is provided from the state budget.
Proponents of clean elections, including those involved in Clean Elections Rhode Island, believe that Clean Elections result in increased voter turnout, political transparency, and diversity of candidates, including fuller representation of women and minorities.
A steering committee for the Clean Elections Rhode Island campaign was formed in the fall of 2005.