Dr. Annelise Anderson, a senior research fellow at the Hoover Institute, has stated that argument for disclosure as such: "We need to strengthen reporting requirements to produce timely and useful information. With modern computers and the Internet, there's no reason why campaign contributions and expenditures shouldn't be reported daily and posted on the Internet in a standard format that can be easily accessed and analyzed by the press and the public."
The opponents of disclosure give three main reasons why stronger disclosure should not be enacted:
Forcing a law-abiding citizen to tell the entire country how much money he gave, when he gave, and whom he gave it to, is not only rude and intrusive, it also violates their right to privacy. In the elections of a free people, an American citizen has the right to a secret ballot. It is his, and only his right to know who he voted for. Government should not force him to tell his country who he voted for. In the same way, government should not force an American citizen to tell his country how much he gave to a political candidate. As public policy analysis group Destination Democracy stated "giving more detailed, accurate, and timely information about contributors...violate their right to privacy. An individualšs giving ought to be as confidential as his or her vote."
The current system already requires some disclosure. What are the results? Nothing positive. Disclosure is not increasing public interest, nor creating a better election process. If anything, it is confusing voters with too much information. From Destination Democracy: "Using the Federal Election Commission's online system, media organizations and concerned citizens can identify a) the names; b) city, state, and ZIP code; c) employer and occupation: and d) amount and date of contribution of individuals who have made contributions of $200 or more to a candidate, PAC, or party committee. Most voters do not know about or use the current disclosure system. It is unlikely that more rigorous and detailed disclosure laws would increase voter interest in the money and politics issue. If anything, it would overwhelm them with too much information."
Also from Destination Democracy: "More comprehensive disclosure laws would only add to the administrative expenses of candidates as they work to comply with the additional regulations. Greater administrative expenses add to campaign costs."
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