An Act relative to fair elections

S 511 creates a voluntary public matching fund program for candidates running for Massachusetts state senate or house seats. To join, candidates must agree to accept no more than $100 per person per election cycle in private donations and collect at least $5 from registered voters in their district during a specified qualifying period. In return, the state will match qualifying small donations dollar-for-dollar using funds from public donations and state appropriations. This system aims to reduce reliance on large contributions by providing public funding to candidates who comply with the contribution limits and reporting requirements.