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§ 5-703. Nomination by petition

West's Annotated Code of MarylandElection LawEffective: October 1, 2017

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Election Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 5. Candidates
Subtitle 7. Nomination (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2017
MD Code, Election Law, § 5-703
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 33, § 5-703
§ 5-703. Nomination by petition
Currentness
Application of section
(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.
In general
(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.
Declaration of intent by candidate
(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) not later than the first Monday in July; and
(ii) for a special election to fill a vacancy for Representative in Congress, by the date and time specified 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.
Certificate of candidacy
(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.
Petition signature requirements
(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 the lesser of 10,000 registered voters or 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.
Time and place for filing petition signatures
(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.

Credits

Added as Art. 33, § 5-703, by Acts 1998, c. 585, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 1998, c. 587, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, c. 34, § 1, eff. April 13, 1999. Transferred to Election Law § 5-703 by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2006, c. 120, § 1, eff. April 25, 2006; Acts 2008, c. 118, § 1, eff. April 17, 2008; Acts 2010, c. 72, § 5, eff. April 13 2010; Acts 2010, c. 270, § 1, eff. June 1, 2010; Acts 2010, c. 271, § 1, eff. June 1, 2010; Acts 2015, c. 332, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2017, c. 786, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017.
Formerly Art. 33, § 5-703.
MD Code, Election Law, § 5-703, MD ELEC LAW § 5-703
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document