Mayor Scott swears in Fair Election Fund Commissioners

On Monday, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott swore in the first three commissioners to the City’s Fair Election Fund Commission.  The Commission will educate the citizens of Baltimore on the Fair Election Fund and how to participate, as well as making recommendations for funding and administration of the program to the City.

In 2018, voters passed small donor public financing by a 3-to-1 margin. Councilman Kristerfer Burnett sponsored implementation legislation, which was passed by the City Council and signed into law by former Mayor Jack Young in 2020. Small donor financing will be in effect for the 2024 mayor, comptroller and city council elections.

According to Maryland PIRG Foundation research, the vast majority of fundraising in the last mayoral election originated from people and entities not eligible to vote in Baltimore elections. Under the Fair Elections program, participating candidates can rely on small donor funding from City residents. Candidates who opt-in to receive matching public funds for small contributions from individuals in the City. In exchange, they cannot accept large contributions or money from corporations.