Subject
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Worksession - Discussion of the Draft to amend Chapter 8 of the Rockville City Code Entitled “Elections” to update provisions, make technical and other amendments.
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommend the Mayor and Council provide direction on the proposed amendment to the Election Code which incorporates recommendations from the Board of Supervisors of Elections and direction from the Mayor and Council, discussed at the June 8, 2026, worksession and previous Mayor and Council worksessions.
When the Mayor and Council are ready to move forward with the draft amendments to this ordinance, staff will prepare and bring back the proposed ordinance and the charter amendments necessary to effectuate certain code changes for approval. Mayor and Council may introduce the ordinance at that time and if desired, request a public hearing.
Change in Law or Policy
Upon completion and adoption of the amended ordinance, the Election Code- Chapter 8 would be modified to update provisions and make technical changes while providing greater clarity, transparency, and administrative consistency for the election process. These amendments have been drafted using plain language which makes the amended provisions easier to understand for potential candidates and any other readers. In addition, should amendments allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, and imposing term limits be approved, changes to the Charter would be required and adopted.
Discussion
The attached draft amendments to the ordinance focus on new and revised definitions, updated campaign finance provisions and a revised enforcement process. Other revisions have been made to modernize the language, comply with new state mandates, and initiate provisions that will correspond with anticipated Charter Amendments. The purpose of this worksession is to discuss the proposed amendments and any further guidance or changes the Mayor and Council suggest for Chapter 8.
Consultants
As part of a compressed, three-month process beginning in June, to amend Chapter 8, the City conducted several work group sessions with two (2) BSE members, staff from the Offices of the City Clerk and the City Attorney, and outside consultants. The City engaged the assistance of The Center for Civic Design, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that focuses on election best practices such as drafting legislation and ballots in plain language and who helped draft the City’s advisory ballot questions in the 2023 municipal election. The City also engaged Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan legal organization that provided campaign finance expertise. These work sessions were centered around identifying appropriate election terms and definitions, best practices for campaign finance requirements and revising the enforcement process, as these topics presented issues during the 2023 election.
Plain Language Initiative
The work group noted that the State of Maryland has established a Plain Language Initiative to promote clear, concise, and accessible government communications. Plain Language Standards | Maryland Digital Playbook <https://digital.maryland.gov/principles/plain-language-standards> The initiative recognizes that information written in plain language supports an inclusive government and helps all Marylanders understand and access government programs, services, and requirements. Although this initiative is primarily focused on the state level, the work group and staff, with significant assistance and guidance from the Center for Civic Design, revised provisions of the election code and drafted new provisions in plain language. You will notice that this language differs significantly from traditional code language. When the City completes a comprehensive rewrite of Chapter 8 in the future, the goal will be to draft the entire ordinance in plain language.
New State Requirements
Staff included in this draft amendment a new section entitled “State Requirements”. This section has all the new requirements imposed on municipalities by the State of Maryland, enacted during the 2026 legislative session. Municipalities are now required to report to the State Board of Elections municipal election dates, the qualifications to become a candidate, the list of qualified candidates, and information on voting procedures and locations. Once election results are certified, municipalities must now report election results to the State Board for posting on their website.
Lastly, although not a requirement imposed by the state, the BSE has recommended, and this draft includes a provision that makes it unlawful to threaten a municipal election official. The State enacted a similar provision in its Election Code (§16-904) in 2025, which does not apply to municipal election officials.
List of Sections with Proposed Changes
Below is a list of the sections that have proposed changes to the election code.
• 8-1. Definitions
• 8-4. Powers and Duties of the Board of Supervisors of Elections
• 8-6. Voter Registration
• 8-21. General Elections
• 8-41. Election Procedures General
• 8-42. Provisional Voting
• 8-44. Voter Assistance Mail-in Voting; Election Day
• 8-47. State Requirements
• 8-71. Appointment of Treasurer; Resignation of Treasurer
• 8-72. Candidates joining slates, designating campaign committees
• 8-73. Appointment of Chairperson and Treasurer by Campaign Committee; Reports
• 8-74. Campaign Accounts
• 8-75. Expenditures by Treasurer
• 8-76. Accounts, Records, and Receipts of Treasurer
• 8-77. Contributions and Expenses of Candidates; Loans
• 8-78. Contributions and Expenses of Persons who are not Candidates
• 8-79. Campaign Communications by Labor Organizations, Corporations, Business Associations
• 8-80. Payment for Walk-Around Services on Election Day
• 8-81. Election Reports to be filed by Candidate, Treasurer and Committee Chairperson
• 8-82. Forms for Report of Contributions and Expenditures and Schedule of Receipts and Disbursements.
• 8-83. Requirements of Election Reports and Statements
• 8-84. Preservation of Reports, Statements, Accounts
• 8-111. Violation of Chapter Declared Misdemeanor; Penalty for Violations
• 8-112. Injunction
Future Voting Method and Campaign Finance
There are no revised provisions addressing Ranked-Choice-Voting or Public Finance in this draft. The City Code establishes requirements that are currently effective and not what may be implemented in the future. As such, staff’s recommendation is for the Mayor and Council to consider including both Ranked-Choice Voting and Public Finance as non-binding referendum questions on the 2027 ballot.
Mayor and Council History
The original consultant’s final report and recommendations were presented to the Mayor and Council on September 8, 2025. The Mayor and Council received a draft of the Election Rewrite on April 16, 2026. Following discussion and direction provided on May 11, 2026, responsibility for the rewrite was reassigned to the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations and the Acting City Attorney for further review, revisions and updates to Chapter 8.
On June 8, 2026, the Mayor and Council were presented with the BSE recommendations for input and feedback regarding election administration and proposed reforms. Over the compressed three-month period, staff has worked closely with members of the BSE and election consultants in working group sessions to address the proposed changes and recommendations. As a result of this collaborative effort, staff has prepared the attached draft of the proposed amendments to the ordinance for submission to the Mayor and Council.
Public Notification and Engagement
Staff proposes introducing the proposed Election Code - Chapter 8 and Charter amendments to the Mayor and Council on October 5, 2026, requesting the first public hearing to be scheduled for October 26, 2026, with a tentative second public hearing on November 2, 2026.
Boards and Commissions Review
The Board of Supervisors of Elections (BSE) has had detailed discussions and provided recommendations about the topics and issues being addressed in this draft. The Board participated in work group sessions with staff and the consultants and provided recommended draft language for the Election Code amendment.
Next Steps
If the Mayor and Council provide directions to staff to make changes, staff will make those changes and bring the draft ordinance back for introduction. Staff will also bring back any necessary Charter Amendments for Introduction and Adoption. After Introduction of the proposed ordinance, Mayor and Council may request a public hearing. Staff will schedule any requested public hearings at a future meeting.
Attachments