# DFI Special Research Request: Public Funding for Campaigns Assessment

**Country to be assessed:** [INSERT COUNTRY NAME HERE]

## Introduction to the Task

This research request focuses on collecting precise data needed to score the "Public Funding for Campaigns" component within the Democratic Fitness Indicator (DFI) Elections category.

> IMPORTANT: This assessment applies ONLY to national-level elections (presidential and parliamentary/congressional). Do not include data for local, regional, or non-national elections.

## Data Requirements: Legal Framework and Recent Implementation

For a comprehensive assessment of public funding for campaigns, researchers must collect both:

### 1. Current Legal Framework (Required)
- Complete documentation of all relevant laws and regulations
- Eligibility criteria and thresholds as legally defined

### 2. Recent National Election Data (Required where available)
- Implementation data from the most recent complete national election cycle

**When answering research questions:**
- First establish what is legally possible under the current framework
- Then verify if/how these provisions were implemented in recent elections
- Document any significant gaps between legal provisions and actual implementation
- When calculating percentages, use actual implementation data when available
- If recent implementation data is unavailable, clearly note this limitation and use theoretical calculations based on the legal framework

This approach ensures the assessment captures both the formal structure of public funding and its practical reality, providing a more accurate measure of the democratic fitness of the campaign finance system.

## Core Classification Questions

### Eligibility Thresholds
What minimum voting percentage or other criteria must parties meet to access the full public funding available?


### Eligibility Threshold Assessment

**Objective:** Document exact threshold requirements for accessing public funding and determine bonus point eligibility.

**Required Documentation:**
```
ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD ASSESSMENT:

a) Vote percentage threshold (if applicable):
"[Direct quote of vote percentage requirement]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]

Applies to: [All parties/New parties/Established parties/etc.]
Election type: [Previous general/Previous local/Multiple elections/etc.]

b) Seat-based threshold (if applicable):
"[Direct quote of seat requirement]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]

Minimum seats required: [Number]
Total seats in legislature: [Number]
Percentage equivalent: [Calculate what vote % typically needed to win this many seats]
SOURCE: [Election data or analysis for percentage equivalent]

c) Alternative qualification pathways (if multiple exist):
"[Direct quote of all alternative qualification provisions]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]

Easiest threshold to meet: [Identify which pathway has lowest effective threshold]
Justification: [Brief explanation]

d) Special provisions for different party types:
"[Direct quote of any differential thresholds]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]

Applies to: [New parties/Regional parties/Minority representation parties/etc.]

e) Conversion calculations (for non-percentage thresholds):

FOR FIXED VOTE NUMBER REQUIREMENTS:
Required votes: [Number]
Total votes in last election: [Number]
Calculated percentage: [Number ÷ Total × 100 = X%]
SOURCE: [Election data source]

FOR SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS:
Required signatures: [Number]
Eligible voter population: [Number]
Calculated percentage: [Number ÷ Total × 100 = X%]
SOURCE: [Electoral registry/Census data]

FOR COMPLEX FORMULAS:
"[Direct quote of formula]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]
Calculated minimum percentage: [X%]
Calculation method: [Brief explanation]

f) Practical implementation evidence:
Smallest party receiving funding: [Party name]
Vote percentage received: [X%]
SOURCE: [Electoral commission data/year]

LOWEST EFFECTIVE THRESHOLD DETERMINATION: [X%] based on [specific provision or calculation]
Is threshold below 3%? [YES/NO] - [Justification if not straightforward]
```

### Election Type Coverage Verification

**Objective:** Confirm which election types receive public funding.

**Required Documentation:**
```
ELECTION TYPE COVERAGE:

a) Presidential election funding:
"[Direct quote of presidential funding provisions]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]

b) Parliamentary election funding:
"[Direct quote of parliamentary funding provisions]"
SOURCE: [Law name, Article/Section]

COVERAGE DETERMINATION:
[Both election types covered] OR [Only presidential elections covered] OR [Only parliamentary elections covered]
```

## Source Hierarchy

Follow this hierarchy of authoritative sources:
1. Electoral laws and campaign finance regulations (primary)
2. Official electoral commission documents
3. Government audit/oversight reports
4. Parliamentary committee reports
5. Academic research from recognized institutions
6. Reports from credible international organizations (IDEA, OSCE, etc.)

## Required Sources
Your research must include at least:
1. Direct quotes from relevant electoral/campaign finance laws
2. Official data on public funding allocations
3. At least one independent assessment of the system's operation

## Final Notes

- When systems use fixed allocations rather than percentage caps, determine what the legal framework practically allows rather than what it explicitly states as a percentage
- For complex formulas, show brief calculations that demonstrate the effective maximum possible
- If certain information is unavailable despite thorough research, clearly note this limitation
