Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López applauds Denver City Council for approving campaign finance bill 24-0718 to improve transparency and oversight of spending in local elections. The measure includes technical improvements and adds safeguards to protect taxpayer dollars disbursed by the Fair Elections Fund. The bill passed City Council Monday and was signed by Mayor Johnston on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
The measure streamlines the Office of the Clerk and Recorder’s citizen complaint process and increases the Office’s authority to levy penalties against candidates and committees who fail to report required information, including candidates who receive Fair Elections Fund dollars.
Independent expenditure (IE) filers are subject to new disclosure rules, including designating a filing agent responsible for compliance with Denver campaign finance regulations. Organizations that make IE filers expenditures must now report their principal owner and tax status.
The bill also strengthens the voter-approved Fair Elections Fund by standardizing the process to return unspent taxpayer funds. Unspent taxpayer money must be paid back no later than 60 days after a candidate wins an office, loses an election, fails to make the ballot, or is in an uncontested race after ballot certification.
“Denver residents deserve transparency when it comes to campaign spending in our local elections,” Clerk López said. “This bill reflects my commitment to transparent and fair elections, as well as supporting the continued success of the voter-approved Fair Elections Fund to empower small donors in Denver elections.”
The bill contains other technical changes and improvements to campaign finance oversight, such as clarifying that an incumbent running for re-election must follow the same filing processes as a new candidate. A candidate may now only keep their committee open for four years after leaving office, instead of the previous window of nine years.
The changes went into effect on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
