Vote Choice Inc. v. Distefano

These consolidated appeals, which implicate various aspects of Rhode Islands campaign finance law, necessitate the exploration of largely uncharted constitutional terrain. One appeal, prosecuted on behalf of the state, seeks to reinstate a statute requiring certain political action committees (PACs) to disclose information about all their contributors. The other appeal, prosecuted by an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, Elizabeth Leonard, inveighs against state statutes that bestow special advantages on candidates who comply with eligibility requirements for public campaign financing. At the end of our journey across terra incognita, we conclude that the district court acted appropriately both in striking down the first dollar disclosure requirement and in upholding the incentive provisions. Therefore, we affirm.