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.
Voting & elections
We all need to do more to ensure that, when it comes to our elections, everyone participates and everyone's voice is heard. Only then can we create a democracy that’s more fully of, by and for the people.
The Latest on Voting & elections
How to Vote in the 2022 Maryland Primary Elections
Maryland PIRG New Voters Project Hits the Streets
Updates
How to Vote in Maryland’s July Primary Elections
Featured Resources
Fair Elections in Maryland Counties
Maryland 2022 General Election: Voter Resource Guide
Big Money in Baltimore’s 2020 Elections
Big Money in Maryland Elections
The Latest
MONTGOMERY CO. PUBLIC ELECTION FUND SUCCESSFULLY ENCOURAGES AND EMPOWERS SMALL DONORS
A report released today by Maryland PIRG Foundation finds that the Montgomery County Public Election Fund is working as intended, and is encouraging more small donor participation.
Montgomery Co. Public Election Fund Successfully Encourages and Empowers Small Donors
On Monday, January 29, Maryland PIRG Foundation and Common Cause Maryland will release a report on the initial success of the Montgomery County Public Election Fund. The report will look at the fundraising trends for candidates using the small donor matching program and the trends of candidates not using the program.
Montgomery Co. Public Election Fund Successfully Encourages and Empowers Small Donors
On Monday, January 29, Maryland PIRG Foundation and Common Cause Maryland will release a report on the initial success of the Montgomery County Public Election Fund. The report will look at the fundraising trends for candidates using the small donor matching program and the trends of candidates not using the program.
Outside electoral spending gives megadonors an outsized voice
As the dust begins to clear on this year’s midterms, it is clear that deep-pocketed donors played an outsized role in funding our elections. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, as of reporting on Election Day, spending from Super PACs, c(4)s, and other outside groups reached $553 million, 80% higher than similar spending in the 2010 midterm elections. And this spending is disproportionately from megadonors – in fact, according to campaign reporting to date, just 17 donors to Super PACs spent as much as the at least 793,000 small donors to Congressional candidates.
Distorted Democracy: Post-Election Edition
Our new analysis of data through Election Day from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and other sources shows how big outside spenders drowned out small contributions in the 2012 election cycle: just 61 large donors to Super PACs giving on average $4.7 million each matched the $285.1 million in grassroots contributions from more than 1,425,500 small donors to the major party presidential candidates.