Stefan Passantino, a campaign-finance lawyer in Washington, said bequeathing donations to politicians and parties is an option for people who were active in elections and believe “the best thing I can do with my money is to help make the world a better place.”
Federal rules establish some restrictions on political giving from the grave, however. The donations, for instance, must comply with applicable contribution limits. Currently, an individual cannot donate more than $5,200 to a federal candidate during an election cycle and no more than $32,400 to a political party each year.
In its 2010 Citizens United ruling, the Supreme Court struck down limits on independent spending by corporations and unions — helping pave the way for super PACs such as Kentuckians for Strong Leadership to take contributions of any size. However, the court has upheld limits on contributions made directly to candidates and political parties, arguing those open to the door to potential corruption.
A case now pending before a federal appellate court in Washington, D.C., seeks to overturn those limits for deceased donors. The lawsuit involves Raymond Groves Burrington, a Knoxville, Tenn., man who left more than $217,000 in 2007 to the Libertarian National Committee.