disclosure laws

January 17, 2020 - It's been a decade since the Supreme Court ruling opened a new era of Big Money influence in politics, heightening concerns over corruption and creating new barriers for lower-income candidates and candidates of color. But democracy advocates and their allies have responded by building a movement that links anti-corruption measures with broader reforms.

September 15, 2017 - Texas attorney Trey Trainor has been called his state's "biggest defender of dark money." He also has close ties to the Trump campaign, which is under FEC scrutiny, and he's used social media to promote extremist religious views.

November 8, 2016 - The battleground state's elections board uses outdated software that often prevents the public from learning who outside groups are targeting in their ad buys. Reports on some $2.3 million spent in the state by these groups lack this basic information as of the day before the election.

October 28, 2016 - Political groups unaffiliated with candidates' campaigns have already spent a record amount this election cycle to influence races for state supreme court seats. Among the states seeing big spending are Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina.

September 23, 2016 - This week a federal judge found that the FEC disregarded campaign finance law when it dismissed a watchdog complaint against two Koch-connected nonprofits that spent millions on elections but did not register as political committees. The ruling could lead to increased campaign finance transparency.

July 17, 2015 - A new report examines the well-being of state democracies and finds that seven of the nation's 10 least healthy are in the South. We take a look at barriers to voting across the region.

May 27, 2015 - A Facing South/Institute for Southern Studies analysis finds that disclosure of more than $7 million spent in North Carolina's 2014 state-level elections was slowed due to inconsistencies in state reporting rules — including details about more than $1.6 million that were hidden from the public until after the elections had passed.