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County Public Funding Program

Note: All candidates wishing to use Public Financing MUST file your Statement of Organization (which states your intent to use public matching funds) with the State Board of Elections (SBE) on this site. The Local Board of Elections (LBE), e.g. Montgomery County Board of Elections or Baltimore County Board of Elections, etc., does accept some candidates filing their campaign finance. However, the Public Finance Program is designed to be an on-line registration system.

View county public financing committees
Establish a county public financing committee

I. Background

Public funding of campaigns is a method of running for elected office using government funding to pay for some of your campaign expenses. It is a voluntary program. Candidates who opt into the public finance program must raise money from local residents to become qualified for public money. The exact amounts needed vary based on the jurisdiction and the elected office sought.

The state of Maryland allows local jurisdictions to determine if they want to fund this program. Five counties and the city of Baltimore allow for public funding of elections. Currently the only offices eligible for public funding are for their legislative body and chief executive.

Montgomery was the first county to use public funding for local elections in the 2018 cycle. Howard started in the 2022 cycle. Baltimore City began in 2024. Anne Arundel, Baltimore Co., and Prince George's are the newest counties to have local public funding beginning in the current election cycle (2026 Gubernatorial Cycle).

These five counties and Baltimore City will provide public matching funds if donors limit their contributions to a smaller dollar amount (set by the local jurisdiction that range from $150 to $500 based on the county/ city) than allowed under state law ($6,000 per four year election cycle). A public financed (PF) candidate needs to create a new candidate committee with the MD State Board of Elections (SBE) that is unrelated to any existing candidate committee account. In addition, a PF committee must refuse funding from PACs, LLCs, Business entities and large money contributors. Also, a PF candidate must be viable, which means raising money from their county (or city) residents to qualify for public matching funds. The amount needed to become viable varies based on the office you are seeking and by the county you are running in.

Public financed candidates must be 100% transparent with all donations and expenditures. As such, the PF committee must be strong in bookkeeping, organization and record retention.

II. Key Facts of the County Public Funding Program

Seventy-one percent of all Maryland residents have public funding of their local officials. No other state in the country has as robust a PF program as we do here in Maryland.

Since 2018, 126 candidate committees have been set to accept public funding. That includes three PF committees for Governor.

In 2018, Montgomery County had 40 candidate committees using PF. Twenty-three committees became viable by meeting their threshold of local support. Five PF candidates received the maximum public funding allowed.

In 2022, Montgomery and Howard Counties had 39 candidate committees using PF. Twenty-five committees became viable by meeting their threshold of local support. Seven PF candidates received the maximum public funding allowed.

In 2024, Baltimore City had 8 candidate committees using PF. Four committees became viable by meeting their threshold of local support. One PF candidate received the maximum public funding allowed.

III. Summary Guide for Public Election Fund

IV. Public Election Fund Education Webinars

The State Board of Elections (SBE) has a twice monthly training program to assist all members of your public finance campaign team to apply the best practices and avoid mistakes.

  1. What is Public Financing Webinar from July 14, 2025
  2. Getting Started with Public Financing in MD CRIS from August 4, 2025
  3. How to Record Your Transactions from August 18, 2025
  4. Finding What You Need from MD SBE & Is My Contribution Card Correct from September 15, 2025
  5. How To Do Bulk Uploads & How to Upload and Link Receipts from September 29, 2025
  6. Submitting Your Initial Matching Fund Report from October 20, 2025

Upcoming Schedule for Education and Training Videos

Here is the schedule through January 2026.

DateTimeSubject
Mon Nov 03Noon'Troubleshooting Common PF Issues'
Mon Nov 17Noon'Welcome to the new MD CRIS'
Mon Dec 01Noon'New MD CRIS: How to Add / Amend Transaction'
Mon Dec 15Noon'New MD CRIS: How to Link / Review Data'
Mon Jan 05Noon'New MD CRIS: How to File Your Submissions'
Mon Jan 19Noon'Handling Your 1st Required Report'

RSVP here (long form down below)

V. Summary of Public Campaign Financing Laws

ELECTION LAW
TITLE 13. CAMPAIGN FINANCE
SUBTITLE 5. LOCAL PROVISIONS

Md. Election Law Code Ann. § 13-505 (2017)

13-505. System of public campaign financing.

  1. County may establish system of public campaign financing for elective offices. --
    1. Subject to the provisions of this section, the governing body of a county may establish, by law, a system of public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive or legislative branches of county government.
    2. When establishing a system of public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive or legislative branches of county government, the governing body of a county shall specify the criteria that is to be used to determine whether an individual is eligible for public campaign financing.
  2. Requirements. -- A system of public campaign financing enacted under subsection (a) of this section:
    1. shall provide for participation of candidates in public campaign financing on a strictly voluntary basis;
    2. may not regulate candidates who choose not to participate in public campaign financing;
    3. shall prohibit the use of public campaign financing for any campaign except a campaign for county elective office;
    4. shall require a candidate who accepts public campaign financing to:
      1. establish a campaign finance entity solely for the campaign for county elective office; and
      2. use funds from that campaign finance entity only for the campaign for county elective office;
    5. shall prohibit a candidate who accepts public campaign financing from transferring funds:
      1. to the campaign finance entity established to finance the campaign for county elective office from any other campaign finance entity established for the candidate; and
      2. from the campaign finance entity established to finance the campaign for county elective office to any other campaign finance entity;
    6. shall provide for a public election fund for county elective offices that is administered by the chief financial officer of the county; and
    7. shall be subject to regulation and oversight by the State Board to ensure conformity with State law and policy to the extent practicable.
  3. More stringent regulation of campaign finance activity than provided by State law; administrative penalties. -- A system of public campaign financing enacted under subsection (a) of this section may:
    1. provide for more stringent regulation of campaign finance activity by candidates who choose to accept public campaign financing, including contributions, expenditures, reporting, and campaign material, than is provided for by State law; and
    2. provide for administrative penalties for violations, in accordance with Article 25A, § 5 of the Code.

VI. Public Financing Reporting Schedule (Optional)

The Public Financing Reporting Schedule (PDF) lists the transaction periods and due dates for all the public finance reports due for Public Financing Committees during the election cycle.

VII. Detailed County / Baltimore City Laws, Regulations & Summary Guides

Anne Arundel County Public Campaign Financing System

Anne Arundel County Council approved 25-23 on June 5, 2023 to allow for Small Dollar Matching Fund program for County Executive and Council on a 4-3 vote effective for the 2026 Gubernatorial Election Cycle.

Baltimore City's Fair Election Fund Program

On November 6, 2018, the voters of Baltimore City approved Question H authorizing public finance of elections. The vote passed by a 75% to 25% margin. On Dec 2, 2019, the City Council approved unanimously 19-0403 to create the funding for the program. On January 23, 2020 the Mayor signed Ordinance 12-338 into law to start with the 2024 Election Cycle.

Baltimore County Fair Election Fund (FEF) Program

The voters of Baltimore County approved Question A on November 3, 2020 by a 57%-42% margin. Baltimore County Executive created a Work Study Group in the spring of 2021 to create legislation to submit to the Council. The Baltimore County Council approved the authorizing legislation in form of Bill 102-21 (PDF) on a 6-1 vote in December 2021. The program would start with the 2026 Gubernatorial Election cycle which starts on Jan. 1, 2023 and ends on Dec. 31, 2026.

Howard County Public Campaign Financing Program

On November 4, 2016, the citizens of Howard County approved Question A on a 52.6% to 47.4% vote to create a Citizens' Election Fund program. On July 3, 2017, the Howard County Council overrode the County Executive's veto by a 4-1 vote to authorize the program effective with the 2022 Gubernatorial Election cycle (which started on Jan. 1, 2019. During the 2022 election cycle, seven candidates applied to be publicly funded candidates and five of them qualified for public matching funds. This will be Howard County's second election with public matching funds as an option.

Montgomery County Public Campaign Financing Program

Prince George's County Public Campaign Financing Program

On October 23, 2018, the Prince George's County Council approved CB-099-2018 on a 5-4 vote. The Fair Election Fund will begin with the 2026 Gubernatorial Election cycle which starts on Jan 1, 2023.

VIII. Sample Forms