E-Disclosure of Campaign Finance Information: Divergent Interests in the States

摘要

This study examines factors that influence transparency and access in e-disclosure of state campaign finances. Although e-disclosure has the potential to increase campaign finance transparency and real-time public access to information, little research has been conducted on the factors that have influenced the extent of state e-disclosure practices. E-disclosure practices are analyzed from 2003 through 2007 for the 50 states using multivariate cross-sectional time series analysis and data from the Campaign Disclosure Project. Findings indicate the positive influence of legislative professionalism and state resources on more comprehensive and transparent e-disclosure approaches. Findings also indicate the importance of political factors not found to be salient in earlier e-government research and an ideological divergence between political elites and the general public on the value of disclosure.