Campaign finance requirements for Maryland ballot measures
 in Maryland |
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Groups and individuals involved in ballot measure campaigns in Maryland must adhere to the state's campaign finance laws. These laws regulate the amounts and sources of money given or received for political purposes; in addition, campaign finance laws stipulate disclosure requirements for political contributions and expenditures.
Proponents of more stringent regulations and disclosure requirements, such as the Brennan Center for Justice, claim that current laws do not go far enough to mitigate corruption and the influence of undisclosed special interests. Others, such as the Institute for Free Speech, argue that strict disclosure requirements and contribution limits impinge upon the rights to privacy and free expression.[1][2]
| In Maryland, a group formed to support or oppose a ballot measure is considered a ballot issue committee. An individual can make unlimited contributions to a ballot issue committee. |
The laws and regulations that apply to ballot measure campaigns may differ from those that apply to candidates for political office. To learn more about campaign finance requirements for candidates, see this article.
Maryland ballot measures
- See also: Ballot measure
A ballot measure is any question or issue that appears on an election ballot to be approved or rejected by voters. In 26 states, plus Washington, D.C., citizens may use the initiative and referendum process, which permits citizens to petition to place measures on the ballot and usually involves a signature collection process of some kind. Even in states without initiative and referendum processes, however, ballot measures exist. In all states, citizens may be asked to approve legislatively referred constitutional amendments, state statutes, bond issues or tax proposals.
In Maryland, ballot measures come in the following forms: legislatively referred state statutes, legislatively referred constitutional amendments and veto referenda.
Organizational requirements
In Maryland, "a ballot issue committee is a political committee formed to promote the success or defeat of one or more questions to be submitted to a vote at an election." Before collecting or spending money, a ballot issue committee must file a statement of organization with the Maryland State Board of Elections.[3][4]
See form: Statement of Organization for Campaign Finance Entities
Contribution limits
Under Maryland state law, there is "no limit on how much an individual may contribute to a ballot issue committee."[3][5]
Reporting requirements
Ballot issue committees in Maryland must file regular campaign finance disclosure reports. All reports must be filed electronically "on a diskette other other electronic storage medium, or via the internet." For each contribution, regardless of the amount, the committee must report the name and address of the donor. Likewise, for each expenditure, regardless of the amount, the committee must report the name and address of the recipient.[3][6]
Ballot issue committees must file campaign finance reports according to the following schedule:[3]
- on the fourth Friday before the general election (ballot issue report)
- on the second Friday before the general election (pre-general report)
- on the third Tuesday after the general election (post-general report)
- on the third Wednesday in January (annual report)
Year-specific reporting dates
2021
The table below lists relevant campaign finance report filing deadlines in Maryland in 2021.
| Campaign finance reporting deadlines in Maryland, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Report | Reporting period | Filing deadline |
| 2022 annual report | Last report filed – January 12, 2022 | January 19, 2022 |
| Spring Report (new committees only) | Creation date – April 12, 2022 | April 19, 2022 |
| Pre-primary report 1 | January 13, 2022 – May 17 2022 | May 24, 2022 |
| Pre-primary report 2 | May 18, 2022 – June 12, 2022 | June 17, 2022 |
| Pre-general report 1 | June 13, 2022 – August 23, 2022 | August 30, 2022 |
| Ballot issue report | August 24, 2022 – October 9, 2022 | October 14, 2022 |
| Pre-general report 2 | October 10, 2022 - October 23, 2022 | October 28, 2022 |
| Post-general report | October 24, 2022 - November 15, 2022 | November 22, 2022 |
| 2023 annual report | November 16, 2022 - January 11, 2023 | January 18, 2023 |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Reporting Schedule," accessed July 13, 2021 | ||
2016
The table below lists relevant campaign finance report filing deadlines in Maryland in 2016.
| Campaign finance reporting deadlines in Maryland, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Report | Reporting period | Filing deadline |
| Ballot issue report | January 14, 2016 - October 9, 2016 | October 14, 2016 |
| Pre-general report | October 10, 2016 - October 23, 2016 | October 28, 2016 |
| Post-general report | October 24, 2016 - November 15, 2016 | November 22, 2016 |
| 2017 annual report | November 16, 2016 - January 11, 2017 | January 18, 2017 |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Reporting Schedule," accessed December 11, 2015 | ||
State agencies
- See also: Campaign finance agencies in Maryland
In Maryland, there are two primary agencies involved in campaign finance regulation: the Maryland State Board of Elections and the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor. The former oversees campaign finance reporting processes for candidates and political committees. The latter investigates and sometimes prosecutes civil and criminal violations of the law.
- Maryland State Board of Elections
- 151 West Street, Suite 200
- Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Telephone: 410-269-2840
- Fax: 410-974-2019
- Email: info.sbe@maryland.gov
- Maryland State Prosecutor
- 300 East Joppa Road
- Hampton Plaza, Suite 410
- Towson, Maryland 21286-3152
- Telephone: 410-321-4067
- Fax: 410-321-3851
- Email: dinformation.ospmd1@maryland.gov
Campaign finance legislation
The following is a list of recent campaign finance bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Maryland state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.
Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.
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Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Maryland campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Campaign finance requirements in Maryland
- Campaign finance agencies in Maryland
- List of Maryland ballot measures
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Institute for Free Speech, "Money in Politics," accessed September 4, 2017
- ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Money in Politics," accessed September 4, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Maryland State Board of Elections, "Summary Guide: Maryland Candidacy and Campaign Finance Laws," revised August 2010
- ↑ Maryland Election Law Code, "Section 1-101," accessed December 11, 2015
- ↑ Maryland Election Law Code, "Section 13-226," accessed December 11, 2015
- ↑ Maryland Election Law Code, "Section 13-304," accessed December 11, 2015
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