Anne Arundel County Petition for Fair Elections Falls Short

A charter amendment to establish a small donor public financing program for Ann Arundel County will not be on the November ballot this year, after petition gatherers fell short of the 10,000 signatures needed to place the question on the ballot.

“We’re disappointed that Anne Arundel County voters won’t have the opportunity to vote on this important amendment to the county charter,” said Maryland PIRG Director Emily Scarr. “Voters across the political spectrum agree that big money plays too big a role in our elections, which is why these programs are spreading throughout the state with bipartisan support. We hope the Council will take action next term to to establish small donor public financing to expand opportunities to run for office, lower average contributions, and increase participation in local government.”

Under a small donor system, candidates for County Council and County Executive who abide by stricter ethics and transparency rules like not taking giant checks from large donors, corporations, or PACs can qualify to receive limited matching funds for small donations they receive from Anne Arundel County residents. Candidates must qualify to participate by reaching thresholds for small donations raised to show viability and support from the community.