Advisory: Important Campaign Finance Deadlines for Special Election in Council District 9

A special election to fill the vacant seat in City Council District 9, representing Central Harlem, Morningside Heights, parts of the Upper West Side and parts of East Harlem, will be held on February 14, 2017. Candidates for this election who wish to participate in the Campaign Finance Program must submit a certification form to the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) by Tuesday, January 17. Forms delivered to the CFB by hand must be received by 5 PM on Tuesday and forms submitted by mail must be postmarked before midnight.

The matching funds program gives more candidates the opportunity to run for public office by matching the small dollar contributions candidates raise from New York City residents with public funds. The program diminishes the role large contributions play in city elections and provides candidates with the resources they need to run competitive campaigns. Some facts about the NYC Campaign Finance Program:

• More than 9 out of 10 candidates on the ballot in the 2013 primary elections were program participants.
• More than 90 percent of all contributions came from individuals, not special interest groups.
• More than two-thirds of individual contributions raised came from New York City residents. 
• 58 of the 59 elected officials in New York City have participated in the matching funds program.

The first $175 of contributions from NYC residents will be matched at a rate of $6-to-$1 for a maximum of $1,050 in public funds per contributor. To be eligible for receiving public funding, participants must appear on the ballot, face an opponent on the ballot, and meet a two-part contribution threshold (raise $5,000 from at least 75 contributors within the district). Eligible candidates may qualify to receive up to $100,100 in public matching funds payments. The program is voluntary; by joining, candidates agree to abide by a special election spending limit of $182,000. 

Candidates who do not wish to participate in the program must submit a filer registration form as soon as they begin raising or spending money. Contribution limits and disclosure requirements apply to all candidates. Please note that the contribution limit for this election is $1,375. Candidates will file campaign finance disclosure statements according to the following schedule:
 

* All candidates must file the last disclosure statement of the 2017A election cycle on July 17, 2017 if they are not registered for the 2017 election cycle