Add Accessibility of Candidate Debates and Forums Code and amend Open and Accountable Elections Program Code to make the program fairer, simpler, easier to navigate, and better optimized to achieve program goals (add Code Chapter 2.09 and amend Chapter 2.16)

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: Council adopted the Open and Accountable Elections program in December 2016. The Open and Accountable Elections program provides candidates, who demonstrate broad community support by collecting many small qualifying contributions from Portland residents, with matching dollars from the City’s Open and Accountable Elections Fund if the candidates agree to follow program rules. The intention of the program is to reduce actual and perceived corruption by reducing reliance on large contributions by campaigns. This will also allow candidates to engage with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and neighborhoods, which will ensure that the priorities and concerns of all individuals have the opportunity to be heard and increase the participation of all Portlanders by increasing the value of small donations. The program was launched for the 2020 elections and is currently available for candidates who plan to run in the 2022 elections. The following amendments are based on recommendations from the Open and Accountable Elections Commission, which oversees the program and is tasked by Code to make recommendations to Council of amendments to improve the program after each election cycle. The Open and Accountable Elections Commission received feedback from program users, community organizations, and the public for how to make the program fairer, simpler, easier to navigate, and better optimized to achieve program goals. It then evaluated the feedback along with quantitative data and the administrative needs of the program to issue the recommended amendments. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: Add Code Chapter 2.09, Accessibility of Candidate Debates and Forums, as shown in Exhibit A. Amend Code Chapter 2.16, Open and Accountable Elections Program, as shown in Exhibit B.