26-0212: Fair Election Fund – Update FOR the purpose of updating certain provisions regarding the Fair Election Fund; amending the list of elections eligible for the Fund; clarifying procedures for candidate withdrawal from an election; amending post-election procedures; and generally relating to the Fair Election Fund.

Description

Fair Election Fund – Update FOR the purpose of updating certain provisions regarding the Fair Election Fund; amending the list of elections eligible for the Fund; clarifying procedures for candidate withdrawal from an election; amending post-election procedures; and generally relating to the Fair Election Fund.

Summary

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0212 would update the Fair Election Fund, the public financing program for municipal campaigns. It expands eligible offices to include Register of Wills and Clerk of the Circuit Court, sets different matching formulas for major offices and other positions, and lowers the mayoral primary or general-election funding cap from $1.5 million to $1 million. Caps would be adjusted for inflation every four years. The bill allows partial funding in initially uncontested elections, requires more frequent Fund-adequacy reviews, and requires candidates who withdraw or endorse another candidate to repay public funds with interest. Candidates may retain up to 10% for post-election expenses if they continue participating in the next cycle. It also permits campaign affiliations under specified conditions and removes the ban on slates. The bill would affect candidates, campaign committees, election administrators, and voters by revising access to and accountability for public campaign financing.