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Rules committee recommends unfavorably on proposed changes to campaign fund reporting schedule
Summary
The Annapolis Rules Committee recommended unfavorably on O-24-25, a measure that would add or shift campaign fund reporting deadlines. The city’s Board of Supervisors of Elections told the committee it prefers retaining a report four weeks before the general election rather than adding an additional earlier report; committee members said extra
The Rules Committee voted to recommend unfavorably on Ordinance O-24-25, a proposed change to the city’s campaign‑finance reporting schedule.
Eileen Leahy, identified at the meeting as chair of the Board of Supervisors of Elections, told the committee the board reviewed the ordinance and recommended against adding an early report no later than the 26th Tuesday preceding any primary. The board said such an early deadline yields little useful information — new candidates are often not yet active that early in the cycle — and would increase the filing burden on treasurers and incumbents.
The proposed ordinance would add two reporting dates in some places and shift the wording in others. The board suggested keeping a report that is four weeks before the general election rather than one held the week immediately preceding the election; the board’s comment reflected a preference for the four‑week report as more useful to voters.
Committee members objected to the change both because it would add reporting burden and because it arrives close to a scheduled change to the local election process (ranked‑choice voting), which already requires public education and adjustments by candidates and volunteers. Several aldermen said the current schedule is adequate and that additional dates should be considered, if at all, after the next election cycle and after further review by the board.
The committee moved and passed a recommendation unfavorably on O-24-25; staff and the board of elections will be advised of the committee’s position.
