Subject
title
Discussion on the Proposed Draft City Election Code - Chapter 8
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council discuss the proposed City of Rockville draft Election Code - Chapter 8 and provide input on the following questions. Responses to these policy questions are critical in the finalization of the proposed draft Rockville Election Code.
1. Voting age - Should Rockville allow 16-17-year-olds to vote in Rockville municipal elections?
2. Term limits - Should Rockville limit the Mayor and Councilmembers terms? If so,
i. When should the term limits begin? (e.g., 2027?)
ii. What is the number of 4-year terms members would be limited to serve consecutively?
3. Representative Districts - Should Rockville create council representative districts? If so,
i. When should the district begin? (e.g., 2031?)
ii. How many council-designated districts and at-large council districts should be created?
4. Rank Choice Voting - Should Rockville institute Rank Choice Voting beginning in 2031?
5. Public Financing - Should Rockville institute the public financing of Rockville municipal elections in 2031?
Change in Law or Policy
Upon adoption, the draft City Election Code - Chapter 8 will significantly modify the laws that govern the Rockville Municipal elections, thus providing clarity and enhancing transparency.
Discussion
Background
After two work sessions and two public engagement sessions on city election reform, the Mayor and Council formally accepted the final report <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14740902&GUID=3535E26C-6F1A-42E8-A538-73805E9DF7E4> on the city election code update from the election consultant, the Gant Group, on September 8, 2025. For reference, the city’s current election code is attached (Attachment 1).
Following the acceptance of the report, the Mayor and Council tasked staff to draft a new election code - Chapter 8. Attached to this staff report is the draft Rockville Election Code - Chapter 8 (Attachment 2) for your review and discussion. The new draft Election Code is made up of eight (8) Articles. Below is a synopsis of each of the Articles. Please note that this work session will only cover Articles I to VI. A subsequent work session to discuss Articles VII and VIII is tentatively scheduled for June 1.
• Article I - In General: This Article covers the definitions in Chapter 8, general provisions, and outlines the purpose of the City’s Election Code.
• Article II - Board of Supervisors of Elections: This Article covers the Board of Supervisors of Elections, specifically, how they are appointed, member eligibility, terms, and their duties, among other things.
• Article III - Voter Registration: This Article covers voter registration, that is, how eligible voters are registered for Rockville municipal elections. You will note that Sections 8-27 and 8-28 are drafted in such a way as to allow the body to discuss and determine during the work session whether 16- and 17-year-olds will be permitted to vote in Rockville municipal elections.
• Article IV - Candidates: This Article covers candidate eligibility, candidacy for more than one office, nomination, candidate withdrawal, city employees as candidates, and write-in candidates. As drafted, Sections 8-36 allow the body to discuss and determine during the work session whether 16- and 17-year-olds will be permitted to vote in Rockville municipal elections and run for city elected office.
• Article V - Rockville Municipal Elections: This Article covers the types of Rockville municipal elections. Section 8-47(b) is drafted to allow the body to discuss and determine during the work session whether the body wants to establish term limits; and Section 8-47(c) is drafted to allow the body to discuss and determine during the work session whether the body wants to create council districts beginning in 2031, and if so, the number of council-designated districts and the number of at-large council districts.
• Article VI - Voting: This Article covers the mechanics and framework of how the Rockville municipal elections are administered. This section includes the voting system, ballots, vote centers, electioneering, provisional voting, canvassing of ballots, and election judges, among others. Section 8-68 is drafted to allow the body to discuss and determine during the work session whether the body wants to institute rank choice voting beginning in 2031.
As noted above, Articles VII and VIII will be discussed at the June 1, 2026, work session.
• Article VII - Campaigns: This Article covers campaigns and regulations of campaign activities, including campaign finance, campaign committee, out-of-state campaign committee, campaign contributions, political action committee, independent expenditures by individuals, campaign finance reporting, and campaign materials, among others. Section 8-117 is drafted to allow the body to discuss and determine during the work session whether the body wants to institute the public financing of Rockville municipal elections beginning in 2031.
• Article VIII - Violations; Administrative Hearing: This Article outlines the violations and enforcement mechanism when violations of Chapter 8 occur.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council held two work sessions facilitated by the consultant. The first work session <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7404995&GUID=7CFDD7B4-FF05-4F78-83CD-4B8FD46B95B3&Options=&Search=> was held on May 19, 2025. The second work session on July 21, 2025 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7487860&GUID=F2A2F681-EB5B-4023-B9FF-0F87B54DC86B&Options=&Search=>. The body accepted the consultant’s final report on the Election Code Update at its September 8, 2025 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1287321&GUID=16493730-F196-4CE2-8FFD-705676C8BE7B&Options=info|&Search=>, meeting.
Public Notification and Engagement
Members of the Mayor and Council have expressed interest in holding a public hearing on the proposed draft election code - Chapter 8. Following the introduction of the Ordinance, a public hearing is anticipated and will be scheduled and held prior to adoption.
Boards and Commissions Review
The Office of the City Attorney met with the Board of Supervisors of Elections (BSE) on March 26, 2026, where the city attorney provided an outline and overview of their approach to drafting the proposed code. The proposed draft has been shared with members of the BSE to review and provide comments/feedback.
Next Steps
Following this work session and direction from the Mayor and Council, staff will make requisite changes to the draft election code. A second is scheduled for June 1, 2026, where staff will cover Articles VII and VIII. If approved, a public hearing will be held on June 1, 2026. The final draft of the election code is tentatively scheduled for adoption on June 29, 2026.