US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      (a)      A nominee may decline the nomination by filing a certificate of declination on the prescribed form.

      (b)      The certificate of declination shall be under oath and filed:

            (1)      with the board at which the certificate of candidacy was filed; and

            (2)      (i)      in the year of a gubernatorial election or the year of an election for the Mayor of the City of Baltimore, within 2 days after the election results are certified; or

                  (ii)      in the year of a presidential election, by the 70th day preceding the general election.

      (c)      If a certificate of declination is filed under this section:

            (1)      the certificate of nomination to which the certificate of declination relates is void;

            (2)      a vacancy in nomination is created to be filled in accordance with the provisions of Subtitle 10 of this title;

            (3)      the name of the individual who declined the nomination may not appear on the ballot unless the individual is selected to fill that vacancy; and

            (4)      the filing fee for the certificate of candidacy of that individual may not be refunded.