Election Campaign/Political Law Overview

Election campaign law governs the process by which officials are elected at the local, state, or national level. Most elections are regulated by state law. Relevant laws cover issues such as who can run for office, who can vote, who can donate to a campaign, how voters can register, and where voting can take place. They also determine what voter-registration and campaign-donation information is publicly available, and how campaigns for office are conducted and financed.

At the federal level, campaign law governs such issues as "soft money" contributions to political parties, campaign advertisements, contribution limits, and the electoral-college process for presidential elections.