Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Combat Automatic Recurring Campaign Contributions
Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Mike Levin (CA-49), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Jay Obernolte (CA-08) reintroduced the bipartisan Uncheck the Box Act to prevent political campaigns from using pre-checked boxes to solicit recurring contributions.
The bipartisan legislation would require political campaigns across the board to receive affirmative consent, without passive action such as failing to uncheck a pre-checked box, for recurring contributions and prohibit a person from soliciting a recurring contribution to a political committee, independent expenditure, or any electioneering communication that does not require the contributor to provide affirmative consent.
“Politicians can’t claim to protect Americans from fraud and abuse while simultaneously shaking them down with confusing fundraising techniques,” said Rep. Levin. “Preventing scams is not a partisan issue. This bill should be a no-brainer for every member of Congress who cares about the financial security of their constituents. I thank Reps. LaLota, Neguse, and Obernolte for their bipartisan partnership on this bill and look forward to moving it through the legislative process.”
“No one should be tricked into making recurring donations they didn’t intend to authorize. The Uncheck the Box Act is a common-sense step to protect consumers from deceptive fundraising tactics,” said Rep. Nick LaLota. “As someone who oversaw elections in my previous role as Suffolk County Elections Commissioner, I know how important it is to maintain trust in our political system, and I’m proud to work across the aisle to deliver this important consumer protection.”
“Americans want a fix to dysfunction in American politics and our broken campaign finance system,” said Congressman Neguse. “The Uncheck the Box Act is a common-sense way to restore integrity and transparency, preventing campaigns from taking advantage of voters engaging in the electoral process. And I’m incredibly proud to join a bipartisan coalition of representatives in working to usher this bill across the finish line.”
In 2021, the bipartisan Federal Election Commission (FEC) unanimously recommended that Congress ban political campaigns from using prechecked boxes to default donors into making recurring contributions. This deceptive fundraising technique has led a large number of Americans to file complaints with the FEC, which has been unable to assist without statutory authority from Congress.
The Uncheck the Box Act would also improve transparency between committees and Americans by forcing committees and independent expenditures to provide a receipt disclosing terms of recurring contributions, include the information needed to cancel any contribution on all communications, and immediately cancel all subsequent contributions on request.
Reps. Levin and LaLota preciously introduced the Uncheck the Box Act in 2024.
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