2013 Maryland Code
ELECTION LAW
§ 5-703 - Nomination by petition

§5-703.

(a) Except for a candidate for a nonpartisan county board of education, this section applies to any candidate for public office subject to this title.

(b) A candidate for a public office may be nominated by petition under this subtitle if the candidate is not affiliated with any political party.

(c) (1) A candidate for public office who seeks nomination by petition shall file a declaration of intent to seek nomination by petition.

(2) The declaration of intent shall be filed with the board at which the candidate files a certificate of candidacy under Subtitle 3 of this title.

(3) The declaration of intent shall be filed as follows:

(i) in a year in which the Governor is elected or the Baltimore City municipal election is held, by the date and time specified for a candidate to file a certificate of candidacy;

(ii) in a year in which the President is elected, by July 1; and

(iii) for a special election to fill a vacancy for Representative in Congress, by the date and time specified for a candidate to file a certificate of candidacy in the Governor’s proclamation.

(4) A candidate who seeks nomination by petition may not be charged a fee for filing the declaration of intent.

(d) (1) A candidate for public office who seeks nomination by petition shall file a certificate of candidacy not later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August in the year of the general election for the office.

(2) Except for the time of filing, the certificate of candidacy for a candidate who seeks nomination by petition shall comply with the requirements for a certificate of candidacy under Subtitle 3 of this title.

(e) (1) A candidate who seeks nomination by petition may not have the candidate’s name placed on the general election ballot unless the candidate files with the appropriate board petitions signed by not less than 1% of the total number of registered voters who are eligible to vote for the office for which the nomination by petition is sought, except that the petitions shall be signed by at least 250 registered voters who are eligible to vote for the office.

(2) The petitions shall be filed as required in Title 6 of this article.

(3) The number of registered voters required to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be determined as of January 1 of the year of the primary election for which the nomination is sought.

(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a petition that contains the required number of signatures specified under subsection (e)(1) of this section shall be filed with the appropriate board by 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August in the year in which the general election is held.

(2) In a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of Representative in Congress, a petition that contains the required number of signatures shall be filed with the State Board by 5 p.m. on the day of the special primary election.

§ 5-703 - 1. Nomination by political party not required to nominate candidates by party primary.

(a) Scope. -- Except for a candidate for a nonpartisan county board of education, this section applies to any candidate for public office subject to this title.

(b) In general. -- A candidate for a public office may be nominated by a political party under this subtitle if the political party is not required to nominate its candidates by party primary.

(c) Declaration of intent. --

(1) A candidate for public office who seeks political party nomination under this section shall file a declaration of intent to seek political party nomination.

(2) The declaration of intent shall be filed with the board at which the candidate files a certificate of candidacy under Subtitle 3 of this title.

(3) The declaration of intent shall be filed as follows:

(i) in a year in which the Governor is elected, by the date and time specified for a candidate to file a certificate of candidacy;

(ii) in the year in which the President and Mayor of Baltimore City are elected, by July 1; and

(iii) for a special election to fill a vacancy:

1. for Representative in Congress, by the date and time specified in the Governor's proclamation for a candidate to file a certificate of candidacy; or

2. for a local public office, by the date and time specified in the county proclamation for a candidate to file a certificate of candidacy.

(4) A candidate who seeks nomination by political party may not be charged a fee for filing the declaration of intent.

(d) Time of filing; compliance with requirements for certificate of candidacy. --

(1) A candidate for public office who seeks nomination by political party shall file a certificate of candidacy not later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August in the year of the general election for the office.

(2) Except for the time of filing, the certificate of candidacy for a candidate who seeks nomination by political party shall comply with the requirements for a certificate of candidacy under Subtitle 3 of this title.

(e) Certificate of nomination. -- A candidate for nomination by political party may not have the candidate's name placed on the general election ballot unless the candidate files with the appropriate board, on a form the State Board prescribes, a certificate of nomination signed by the officers of the political party.