US Elections 2020: The world's most expensive election - BBC News

The 2020 US election campaigns smashed all records - with presidential and congressional candidates spending a total of almost $14bn - more than double the price tag for 2016.

This year the campaigns had to contend with the coronavirus pandemic, but what explains the huge increase?

BBC Reality Check breaks down some of the spending and who paid for it.

Motion graphics by Jacqueline Galvin

Narrated by Marianna Brady

Written and produced by Jake Horton and Soraya Auer

[giovannyarce]

Imagine how many people in other parts of the world could be helped to fight hunger with all this money...

[ThomasJamesPropertyInvestiing]

There is a risk in everything, so be prepared for the ups and downs. That's why I invest in Bitcoin that way I don't care about all these set back.

[captainjoejoe]

No coverage of the Giuliani press conference BBC?? Why not??

[peterharknett]

Why aren't you reporting on the US election fraud Dominion and SMARTMATIC voting machines used in Venezuela by Chavez and part owned by Lord Malloch-Brown, with US votes being counted in Frankfurt and Barcelona ?

[foxabilo]

The over 75's are now being hunted down by a new 800 strong BBC team of license enforcers and bailiffs who cost £38M to setup.

[MrLoobu]

Bahahahaha. Just like the healthcare system. Pay gold for garbage.

[ebillyboi]

and the BBC take money of british pensioners via the licence fee to pay the high salaries of their blinking

[brunostraub]

...and still no stimulus... THANKS, Obama!

[mmontalvan]

Sorry, its 106 million dollars to the families of the governor, and secretary of state Georgia

[pavolkocis]

Who is going to pay for it? Soon the lucky country in the middle east will find out 🙄

[gwmkiwi]

I am really very tired of the USA election. Wake me up when it is over.

[Sofia-qnfs]

I really hate politicians and politics. It surely is not my favorite 😒

[marygem]

You didnt count the $125, 000 per hour for Airforce One cost to the American taxpayers for the lump to hold multiple superspreader events (resulting in 30, 000 virus infected and 700 dead) all over America. Add conservatively, another $2million for that. Did I mention that taxpayers' grandchildren will be paying that off from their future earnings?

[williamrowland]

It would be nice to know how much the BBC spent of British taxpayers money on there bises news

[mmontalvan]

That's excluding voter fraud expenses, like the one person in Michigan recieving 108 million dollars.

[Dennym]

14 billion dollars for the entire 2020 election cycle but still no hazzard pay for frontline workers. Smh!!

[samanthaw]

Way too much spent on a circus performance that is the American general election.

[alllifematters]

How can Joe Biden form a cabinet when he can't even form a sentence.

[EricPaul]

This figure is huge, but to really give it a meaning, it would be interesting to establish the budget per million voters for the presidential election. This would allow a comparison with other countries...

[fall]

If you have enough money you can buy anything proven point.