Maryland Statutes
Election Law

Section 1-303 - Dissemination of Voter Information Materials -- Apartment Buildings, Condominiums, or Other Multifamily Structures - (a) In this section, “voter information material” means: (1) campaign...

Section 1-303.1 - Items Provided by State Board of Elections to Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility -- Ballot Drop Boxes -- Annual Report on Activities - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 1-303.2 - Eligible Voters Informed of Upcoming Elections -- Regulations Adopted -- Annual Report - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 1-304 - Political Restrictions in Montgomery County for Individuals in Quasi-Judicial Capacities - This article does not preempt restrictions on political activities that...

Section 1-305 - Change in Administrative Policy - (a) The State Board or a local board may not...

Title 2 - Powers and Duties of the State and Local Boards

Subtitle 1 - State Board

Section 2-101 - In General - (a) There is a State Board of Elections consisting of...

Section 2-102 - Powers and Duties - (a) The State Board shall manage and supervise elections in...

Section 2-103 - State Administrator - (a) There is a State Administrator of Elections. (b) The...

Section 2-104 - Statewide Biennial Preelection Meeting - (a) In the year preceding each year in which a...

Section 2-105 - Judicial Proceedings; Intervention by State Board - In any judicial proceeding in which a local board is...

Section 2-106 - Records and Voting Authority Card Management - (a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the...

Section 2-107 - Maryland Election Modernization Fund - (a) (1) There is a Maryland Election Modernization Fund. (2)...

Section 2-108 - Report of Security Violation and Significant Attempted Security Violation Involving an Election System - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 2-109 - Contracts With Election Service Provider - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Subtitle 2 - Local Boards

Section 2-201 - Organization - (a) (1) There is a county board of elections in...

Section 2-202 - Powers and Duties - (a) Except for the City of Baltimore, the provisions of...

Section 2-203 - Local Government Funding - Each county shall appropriate the funds essential for the operations...

Section 2-204 - Compensation of Local Board Members - (a) Each regular member of a local board shall receive...

Section 2-205 - Counsel to Local Board - (a) Each local board may appoint or retain as counsel...

Section 2-206 - Election Director - Subject to the requirements of this article and the policies...

Section 2-207 - Local Board Employees - (a) (1) This section applies to each employee of a...

Subtitle 3 - Provisions Generally Applicable

Section 2-301 - Bar to Political Activities - (a) This section applies to: (1) a member of the...

Section 2-302 - Hours of Business - (a) (1) The State Board shall be open for business...

Section 2-303 - Precincts - (a) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this...

Section 2-304 - Factors Considered When Locating Ballot Drop Box -- Designation of Drop Box Placement -- Proposed Locations Submitted to State Administrator - (a) A local board shall consider the following factors when...

Section 2-305 - Security Measures for Ballot Drop Boxes -- Daily Removal of Election-Related Materials -- Chain of Custody Procedures - (a) (1) A local board shall ensure the security of...

Title 3 - Voter Registration

Subtitle 1 - Registration -- Generally

Section 3-101 - Statewide Voter Registration List - (a) There shall be a statewide voter registration list. (b)...

Section 3-102 - Qualifications for Voter Registration - (a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this...

Section 3-103 - Website Information for Voting by Students Enrolled in Institutions of Higher Education - The State Board shall maintain a page on its website...

Subtitle 2 - Methods of Application

Section 3-201 - Applying to Register to Vote - (a) An individual may apply to become a registered voter:...

Section 3-202 - Voter Registration Applications - (a) (1) The statewide voter registration application shall: (i) require...

Section 3-202.1 - Common Access Cards and Federal Post Card Application - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 3-203 - Electronic Voter Registration System - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 3-204 - Application for Registration at Voter Registration Agency - (a) (1) The State Board shall designate public agencies and...

Section 3-204.1 - Online Voter Registration System - (a) The State Board may operate an online voter registration...

Section 3-204.2 - Opportunity to Register to Vote Online Through Other Agency Websites - (a) The State Board and the Department of Natural Resources...

Section 3-205 - Certain Acts by Voter Registration Volunteers or Individuals Assisting Others to Register Prohibited - A voter registration volunteer or any individual assisting another individual...

Subtitle 3 - Administration of Registration

Section 3-301 - Processing Voter Registration Applications - (a) When a voter registration application is received by a...

Section 3-302 - Registration Closing - (a) (1) Except as provided under §§ 3–305 and 3–306...

Section 3-303 - Change of Party Affiliation or to or From a Decline - (a) Notification of a change of party affiliation or a...

Section 3-304 - Change of Name or Address - (a) (1) Notification of a change of address or of...

Section 3-305 - Early Voting Registration - (a) During early voting, an individual may appear in person...

Section 3-306 - Application to Register to Vote on Election Day - (a) On election day, an individual may appear at a...

Subtitle 4 - Municipal Registration

Section 3-401 - Definitions - (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings...

Section 3-402 - Applicability - This subtitle does not apply to a municipal corporation that:...

Section 3-403 - Municipal Registration Procedure - (a) A voter residing in a municipal corporation is considered...

Subtitle 5 - Statewide Voter Registration List

Section 3-501 - Removal of Voters From Registry - An election director may remove a voter from the statewide...

Section 3-502 - Change of Address Information; Procedures - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 3-503 - Inactive List - (a) If a voter fails to respond to a confirmation...

Section 3-504 - Information From Other Agencies; Death Verification and Removal From Statewide Voter Registration List - (a) (1) (i) Information from the agencies specified in this...

Section 3-505 - Retention of Voter Registration Records - (a) The State Board shall adopt regulations for the retention...

Section 3-506 - Copies of List - (a) (1) A copy of a list of registered voters...

Subtitle 6 - Resolution of Registration Disputes and Challenges

Section 3-601.1 - Clerical Error - (a) In this section, “clerical error” means an inadvertent mistake...

Section 3-602 - Administrative Complaint - (a) Under the procedures established by the State Board, an...

Title 4 - Political Parties

Subtitle 1 - Formation of Political Parties

Section 4-101 - Applicability - Except as to a matter of compelling State interest, if...

Section 4-102 - New Political Parties - (a) Any group of registered voters may form a new...

Section 4-103 - Loss of Status as a Political Party - (a) (1) Unless extended pursuant to paragraph (2) of this...

Subtitle 2 - Political Party Governing Bodies

Section 4-201 - Political Party State Central Committees - (a) Each political party shall have a State central committee...

Section 4-202 - Composition of Local Central Committees of Principal Political Parties -- Generally - (a) (1) A principal political party shall elect the members...

Section 4-203 - Composition of Central Committees -- Local Provisions - (a) (1) In Anne Arundel County, the members of the...

Section 4-204 - Constitution and Bylaws - (a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, each political...

Section 4-205 - Prohibited Practices - (a) A political party in the State may not incorporate...

Title 5 - Candidates

Subtitle 1 - General Provisions

Section 5-101 - In General - (a) This subtitle governs the process by which an individual...

Subtitle 2 - Qualifications

Section 5-201 - In General - An individual may become a candidate for a public or...

Section 5-202 - Residency Requirement - A candidate for public or party office must be a...

Section 5-203 - Voter Registration and Party Affiliation - (a) (1) This subsection does not apply to a candidate...

Section 5-204 - Candidacy for More Than One Office - (a) An individual simultaneously may not be a candidate for...

Section 5-205 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor Unit - (a) In accordance with Article II of the Maryland Constitution,...

Subtitle 3 - Certificate of Candidacy

Section 5-301 - In General - (a) An individual may become a candidate for a public...

Section 5-302 - Filing - (a) A certificate of candidacy shall be filed under oath...

Section 5-303 - When Filed - (a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d)...

Section 5-304 - Manner of Filing - (a) (1) A certificate of candidacy may be filed: (i)...

Section 5-305 - Petition to Challenge Residency of Certain Candidates - (a) This section applies only to a petition that will...

Subtitle 4 - Filing Fees

Section 5-401 - Amount - (a) (1) This section does not apply to a write–in...

Section 5-402 - Return of Filing Fees - (a) Upon request, a candidate who pays a filing fee...

Section 5-403 - Disposition of Filing Fees - Filing fees paid by candidates under § 5–401 of this...

Subtitle 5 - Withdrawal of Candidacy After Filing but Before Primary Election

Section 5-501 - Scope - An individual who has filed a certificate of candidacy may...

Section 5-502 - Time for Withdrawal - (a) Subject to § 5–402 of this title, an individual...

Section 5-503 - Place and Manner of Withdrawal - (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,...

Section 5-504 - Effect of Withdrawal of Candidacy - (a) If a certificate of withdrawal is filed under this...

Subtitle 6 - Qualification for Primary Election Ballot

Section 5-601 - Candidates Qualifying - The name of a candidate shall remain on the ballot...

Subtitle 7 - Nomination

Section 5-701 - In General - Nominations for public offices that are filled by elections governed...

Section 5-702 - Nomination by Primary Election - A candidate for public office of a political party shall...

Section 5-703 - Nomination by Petition - (a) Except for a candidate for a nonpartisan county board...

Section 5-703.1 - Nomination by Political Party Not Required to Nominate Candidates by Party Primary - (a) Except for a candidate for a nonpartisan county board...

Section 5-704 - Write-in Candidates - An individual who seeks election as a write-in candidate shall...

Section 5-705 - Certificate of Nomination or Election After Primary Election - (a) A certificate of nomination that entitles a candidate for...

Section 5-706 - Candidate Defeated in Primary Election - (a) This section does not apply to: (1) a candidate...

Subtitle 8 - Declination of Nomination

Section 5-801 - Declination of Nomination - (a) A nominee may decline the nomination by filing a...

Subtitle 9 - Vacancies in Candidacy Occurring Before a Primary Election

Section 5-901 - Offices Other Than Governor and Lieutenant Governor -- No Filed Candidate - (a) This section does not apply to a vacancy in...

Section 5-902 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor -- Vacancy in Candidacy Before the Filing Deadline - (a) If either of the candidates of a Governor and...

Section 5-903 - Lieutenant Governor -- Vacancy in Candidacy Occurring After the Filing Deadline - (a) (1) If a candidate for Lieutenant Governor dies, withdraws...

Section 5-904 - Governor -- Vacancy in Candidacy After the Filing Deadline When More Than One Governor and Lieutenant Governor Unit Files for Nomination - (a) This section does not apply if only one Governor...

Section 5-905 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor -- Vacancy in Candidacy After the Filing Deadline When Only One Governor and Lieutenant Governor Unit Files for Nomination - (a) If only a single Governor and Lieutenant Governor unit...

Subtitle 10 - Filling Vacancies in Nomination After a Primary Election

Section 5-1001 - Certificate of Nomination to Fill Vacancies - (a) When a local board receives a certificate of designation...

Section 5-1002 - Statewide Offices - (a) This section applies only to a nominee for statewide...

Section 5-1003 - Shared District Candidates -- More Than One County in a Congressional or General Assembly District - (a) This section applies to a vacancy in nomination for...

Section 5-1004 - Local Offices and Districts Entirely Within One County - (a) A vacancy in nomination for an office that is...

Section 5-1005 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor - (a) This section applies: (1) to the nominees of a...

Subtitle 11 - Vacancies in Candidacy for Petition Candidates

Section 5-1101 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor Units - (a) This section applies to petition candidates for the office...

Subtitle 12 - Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 5-1201 - Effect of Failure to Designate Successor Candidate and File Certificate - (a) (1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this title,...

Section 5-1202 - Certificate of Candidacy and Payment of Filing Fee Required of Successor Candidates - An individual selected or designated to fill a vacancy in...

Section 5-1203 - Qualifying for General Election Ballot - (a) At each general election, the names of the following...

Subtitle 13 - Late Vacancies Before the General Election

Section 5-1301 - Applicable to Offices Other Than Governor or Lieutenant Governor - (a) Except for a candidate or nominee to fill a...

Section 5-1302 - Deadline for Filing Certificate of Designation and Consequence of Vacancy Occurring After Deadline - (a) A certificate of designation may not be filed later...

Section 5-1303 - Canvass and Certification of Votes When Late Vacancy Occurs - (a) (1) If a nominee dies, declines the nomination, or...

Title 6 - Petitions

Subtitle 1 - Definitions and General Provisions

Section 6-101 - Definitions - (a) In this title the following words have the meanings...

Section 6-102 - Applicability - (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,...

Section 6-103 - Regulations; Guidelines; Forms - (a) (1) The State Board shall adopt regulations, consistent with...

Subtitle 2 - Content and Process of Petitions

Section 6-201 - Content of Petitions - (a) A petition shall contain: (1) an information page; and...

Section 6-202 - Advance Determinations - (a) (1) The format of the petition prepared by a...

Section 6-203 - Signers; Information Provided by Signers - (a) To sign a petition, an individual shall: (1) sign...

Section 6-204 - Circulators; Affidavit of the Circulator - (a) Each signature page shall contain an affidavit made and...

Section 6-205 - Filing of Petitions - (a) (1) Unless otherwise required by the Maryland Constitution, a...

Section 6-206 - Determinations at Time of Filing - (a) Promptly upon the filing of a petition with an...

Section 6-207 - Verification of Signatures - (a) (1) Upon the filing of a petition, and unless...

Section 6-208 - Certification - (a) At the conclusion of the verification and counting processes,...

Section 6-209 - Judicial Review - (a) (1) A person aggrieved by a determination made under...

Section 6-210 - Schedule of Process - (a) (1) A request for an advance determination under §...

Section 6-211 - Prohibited Practices and Penalties - Offenses and penalties relating to the petition process shall be...

Title 7 - Questions

Section 7-101 - Applicability - This title applies to the following types of ballot questions:...

Section 7-102 - Qualification of Questions - (a) (1) A question relating to the holding of a...

Section 7-103 - Text of Questions - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 7-104 - Petitions Relating to Questions - (a) A petition for the election of a charter board...

Section 7-105 - Publication of Questions - (a) A local board shall provide notice of each question...

Title 8 - Elections

Subtitle 1 - Elections Generally

Section 8-101 - Conduct and Uniformity of Elections - (a) Under the supervision of the State Board, and in...

Section 8-102 - Notice of Elections - (a) Except as required under subsection (d) of this section,...

Section 8-103 - Emergencies - (a) In the event of a state of emergency, declared...

Subtitle 2 - Primary Elections

Section 8-201 - Date of the Primary - (a) (1) There shall be a statewide primary election in...

Section 8-202 - Political Parties Using the Primary - (a) A principal political party, as determined by the statement...

Section 8-203 - Certification of Candidates - (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,...

Section 8-204 - Unopposed Candidates - If a candidate qualifies for the primary election ballot in...

Section 8-205 - Write-in Votes Prohibited - A voter may not cast a write-in vote in a...

Subtitle 3 - General Elections

Section 8-301 - Date of General Election - (a) (1) There shall be a statewide general election in...

Subtitle 4 - Special Elections

Section 8-401 - Time of Special Elections - (a) A special primary election and a special general election...

Subtitle 5 - Presidential Elections

Section 8-501 - Selection of Convention Delegates and Alternate Delegates - (a) Delegates and alternate delegates to the national presidential nominating...

Section 8-502 - Candidates for President -- Primary Election - (a) This section applies to the placement on the ballot...

Section 8-503 - Presidential Electors -- Nomination - (a) Each political party shall nominate or provide for the...

Section 8-504 - Presidential Electors -- Election - (a) (1) At the general election for President and Vice...

Section 8-505 - Presidential Electors -- Meeting - (a) (1) The individuals elected to the office of presidential...

Subtitle 5A - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote

Section 8-5A-01 - Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote - The State of Maryland hereby enters the agreement among the...

Subtitle 6 - United States Senators

Section 8-601 - Year of Elections - Except for a special election to fill a vacancy, an...

Section 8-602 - Special Election to Fill Vacancy - (a) (1) (i) If there is a vacancy in the...

Subtitle 7 - Representatives in Congress

Section 8-701 - Congressional Districts -- Generally - (a) (1) The population count used after each decennial census...

Section 8-702 - First Congressional District - (a) The first congressional district consists of the following counties:...

Section 8-703 - Second Congressional District - (a) The second congressional district consists of the following parts...

Section 8-704 - Third Congressional District - (a) The third congressional district consists of the following parts...

Section 8-705 - Fourth Congressional District - (a) The fourth congressional district consists of the following parts...

Section 8-706 - Fifth Congressional District - (a) The fifth congressional district consists of the following counties:...

Section 8-707 - Sixth Congressional District - (a) The sixth congressional district consists of the following counties:...

Section 8-708 - Seventh Congressional District - (a) The seventh congressional district consists of the following parts...

Section 8-709 - Eighth Congressional District - (a) The eighth congressional district consists of the following parts...

Section 8-710 - Congressional Vacancy -- Governor's Proclamation - (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this...

Section 8-711 - Congressional Vacancy -- Certification of Candidates and Nominees - (a) At least 55 days before the special primary election,...

Subtitle 8 - Boards of Education

Section 8-801 - Applicability - Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle and in Title...

Section 8-802 - Nonpartisan Election - (a) (1) (i) Members of boards of education shall be...

Section 8-803 - Qualification for Candidacy - (a) Before certifying the name of a board of education...

Section 8-804 - Primary Elections - (a) In each year that one or more members of...

Section 8-805 - Vacancies in Nomination - (a) (1) If, after the primary election but before the...

Section 8-806 - General Election - (a) In a general election for board of education members,...

Title 9 - Voting

Subtitle 1 - Voting Systems

Section 9-101 - Use of Certified System in Polling Places and for Absentee Voting - (a) The State Board, in consultation with the local boards,...

Section 9-102 - Certification of Voting Systems - (a) In this section, a “voter–verifiable paper record” includes: (1)...

Section 9-103 - Decertification - (a) The State Board: (1) may decertify a voting system...

Section 9-104 - Borrowing to Purchase Voting System - (a) In this section, “bonds” means individual notes, bonds, or...

Section 9-105 - Acquisition of Voting Systems - (a) Acquisition of a voting system shall be by purchase,...

Subtitle 2 - Ballots

Section 9-201 - In General - (a) In any election conducted under this article: (1) all...

Section 9-202 - Responsibilities for Preparation - (a) The State Board shall certify the content and the...

Section 9-203 - Standards - Each ballot shall: (1) be easily understandable by voters; (2)...

Section 9-204 - Uniformity - (a) Subject to the other provisions of this subtitle and...

Section 9-205 - Content - Each ballot shall contain: (1) a heading as provided in...

Section 9-206 - Arrangement -- Format - (a) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection,...

Section 9-207 - Ballots -- Certification; Display; Printing - (a) The State Board shall certify and publicly display the...

Section 9-208 - Late Changes in Ballots - (a) After the printing of ballots has begun and if...

Section 9-209 - Judicial Review - (a) Within 2 days after the content and arrangement of...

Section 9-210 - Arrangement of Ballots -- Candidates and Offices - (a) The offices to be voted on shall be arranged...

Section 9-211 - Arrangement of Ballots -- Questions - (a) Questions to be voted upon shall be placed on...

Section 9-212 - Ballots With Multiple Ballot Faces -- Instructions to Voters - If applicable to the voting system and the requirements of...

Section 9-213 - Absentee and Provisional Ballots -- Content - The content of both an absentee ballot and a provisional...

Section 9-214 - Specimen Ballots - Each local board shall provide specimen ballots, so labeled, for...

Section 9-215 - Printing - (a) Each ballot shall be printed: (1) in plain, clear...

Section 9-216 - Ballot Accountability - (a) Consistent with the regulations adopted by the State Board...

Section 9-217 - Prohibited Practices - (a) A person may not use, distribute, possess, print, or...

Subtitle 3 - Absentee Voting

Section 9-301 - In General - (a) This subtitle applies to every election governed by this...

Section 9-302 - Documentation by Local Boards - Each local board shall maintain a full record of absentee...

Section 9-303 - Guidelines - (a) The State Board shall establish guidelines for the administration...

Section 9-304 - Permissible Unless Federal Preemption - An individual may vote by absentee ballot except to the...

Section 9-305 - Applications for Absentee Ballot - (a) A voter may request an absentee ballot by completing...

Section 9-306 - Review of Application; Issuance or Rejection - (a) Promptly after receipt of an application, the election director...

Section 9-307 - Use of an Agent in Absentee Ballot Process - (a) A qualified applicant may designate a duly authorized agent...

Section 9-308 - Assistance in Marking Ballot - (a) A voter who requires assistance in casting an absentee...

Section 9-308.1 - Online Ballot Marking Tool - (a) In this section: (1) “online ballot marking tool” includes...

Section 9-309 - Instructions - An absentee ballot shall be accompanied by instructions, prescribed by...

Section 9-310 - Envelope, Oath, and Instructions - (a) (1) This subsection applies only to an absentee ballot...

Section 9-311 - Additional Compensation and Expenses - (a) (1) The members of a local board shall each...

Section 9-311.1 - Permanent Absentee Ballot Status -- Submission by Voter -- Selection by Voter -- Sending Absentee Ballots -- Removal From List -- Notification of Changes - (a) All voters are eligible for permanent absentee ballot status....

Section 9-312 - Penalty for Offenses Relating to Absentee Voting - Any person who is convicted of a violation of any...

Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots

Section 9-401 - In General - (a) This subtitle applies to every election governed by this...

Section 9-402 - Documentation by Local Boards - Each local board shall maintain a full record of provisional...

Section 9-403 - Guidelines - (a) The State Board shall establish guidelines for the administration...

Section 9-404 - Requirements for Casting Provisional Ballots - (a) If an individual is eligible under subsection (b) of...

Section 9-405 - Completion of Provisional Ballot - Before an individual casts a provisional ballot: (1) the individual...

Section 9-406 - Assistance in Casting Provisional Ballot - (a) A voter who requires assistance in casting a provisional...

Section 9-407 - Instructions; Envelopes - (a) A provisional ballot shall be accompanied by instructions, prescribed...

Section 9-408 - Penalty for Violations - Any person who is convicted of a violation of any...

Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections

Section 9-501 - Voting by Mail - (a) This subtitle applies only to a special election that...

Section 9-502 - Vote-by-Mail Ballot - (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this...

Section 9-503 - Voting Centers - (a) Each local board shall establish at least one voting...

Section 9-504 - Return of Vote-by-Mail Ballot - (a) A voter may return a vote–by–mail ballot to a...

Section 9-505 - Timeliness - (a) A vote–by–mail ballot is considered timely and may be...

Section 9-506 - Canvass of Votes - (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,...

Section 9-507 - Regulations - The State Board may adopt regulations as necessary to implement...

Title 10 - Polling Places

Subtitle 1 - Polling Place Sites

Section 10-101 - In General - (a) (1) Each local board shall designate a polling place...

Section 10-102 - Alternative Polling Places -- Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities - (a) If the polling place assigned to an elderly or...

Subtitle 2 - Election Judges

Section 10-201 - In General - (a) (1) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of...

Section 10-202 - Qualifications for Election Judges - (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this...

Section 10-203 - Appointment of Election Judges - (a) The election director, with the approval of the local...

Section 10-204 - Oath - (a) (1) Each election judge shall take and subscribe to...

Section 10-205 - Compensation of Election Judges - (a) (1) A local board may fix the compensation of...

Section 10-206 - Instruction for Election Judges - (a) In consultation with the local boards, the State Board...

Section 10-207 - Removal of an Election Judge - (a) A local board shall investigate promptly each complaint it...

Subtitle 3 - Polling Place Procedures

Section 10-301 - Hours for Voting - (a) On an election day, a polling place shall be...

Section 10-301.1 - Early Voting and Early Voting Centers - (a) Except as provided under Title 9, Subtitle 3 of...

Section 10-302 - Delivery of Equipment and Supplies; Backup Copies - (a) In a timely manner for each election, the local...

Section 10-303 - Authority and Duties of Election Judges - (a) Under the supervision of a chief judge, an election...

Section 10-304 - Duties of Police Officers - (a) (1) A police officer who is on duty at...

Section 10-305 - Vacancy in Polling Place Staff During Voting Hours - (a) If there is a vacancy in the polling place...

Section 10-306 - Information for Voters at Polling Place - (a) (1) The State Board, in consultation with the election...

Section 10-307 - Responsibilities of the Local Board - (a) The members of each local board shall be available...

Section 10-308 - Access to Voting Room - (a) An election judge shall allow the following individuals to...

Section 10-309 - Responsibilities of Election Judges on Election Day -- Before the Polls Open - (a) In accordance with instructions provided by the election director,...

Section 10-310 - Responsibilities of Election Judges on Election Day -- Voting Hours - (a) For each individual who seeks to vote, an election...

Section 10-311 - Challengers and Watchers - (a) (1) The following persons or entities have the right...

Section 10-312 - Challenge of an Individual's Right to Vote - (a) (1) The right of an individual to vote may...

Section 10-313 - Write-in Voting - (a) In any general election or special general election, a...

Section 10-314 - Closing of the Polls - (a) (1) The local board shall provide election judges with...

Section 10-315 - Time Off for Employees to Vote - (a) Every employer in the State shall permit any employee...

Subtitle 4 - Election Day Page Program

Section 10-401 - Definitions - (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings...

Section 10-402 - Election Day Page Program - (a) There is an Election Day Page Program. (b) The...

Section 10-403 - Participation by Local Board - (a) (1) A local board may participate in the Program....

Section 10-404 - Pages - (a) To qualify as a page, an individual must: (1)...

Section 10-405 - Written Oath - (a) Each page shall take and subscribe to a written...

Title 11 - Canvassing

Subtitle 1 - Definitions

Section 11-101 - Definitions - (a) In this title the following words have the meanings...

Subtitle 2 - Closing the Polls

Section 11-201 - Regulations - The State Board shall adopt regulations consistent with the provisions...

Section 11-202 - Election Judges -- Procedures for Vote Counting - (a) (1) Each qualified voter present at the polls at...

Subtitle 3 - Vote Canvassing by Local Board

Section 11-301 - Organization of Local Boards of Canvassers - (a) A board of canvassers shall: (1) convene at the...

Section 11-302 - Canvassing of Absentee Ballots - (a) Following an election, each local board shall meet at...

Section 11-303 - Canvassing of Provisional Ballots - (a) Following an election, each local board shall meet at...

Section 11-303.1 - Counting Properly Cast Ballots -- Death of Voter - A ballot properly cast by a voter who dies before...

Section 11-304 - Rejected Absentee Ballot; Appeal - (a) A candidate or absentee voter aggrieved by the decision...

Section 11-305 - Administrative Complaints - Any person who asserts that an election official has violated...

Section 11-306 - Custody and Security of Documents and Records Related to the Canvass - The person designated to maintain custody of the documents and...

Section 11-307 - Errors in Canvass Documents - (a) If a board of canvassers determines that there appears...

Section 11-308 - Verification of Vote Count - (a) Within 10 days after any election, and before certifying...

Section 11-309 - Postelection Tabulation Audit - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Subtitle 4 - Certification of Election Results by Local Board

Section 11-401 - Certified Copies of Results - (a) (1) After each election, each board of canvassers shall...

Section 11-402 - Release and Publication of Returns - (a) Unless otherwise provided by the Maryland Constitution, and except...

Section 11-403 - Security and Inspection of Voting System - (a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this...

Subtitle 5 - Statewide Canvass and Certification

Section 11-501 - State Board -- Canvass of Primary Election Results - (a) Following each gubernatorial primary or special primary election to...

Section 11-502 - Board of State Canvassers - (a) The Board of State Canvassers consists of the following...

Section 11-503 - Board of State Canvassers -- Canvass of Election Results - (a) The Board of State Canvassers shall: (1) (i) convene...

Subtitle 6 - Certification of General Election Results and Issuance of Commissions of Election

Section 11-601 - Governor -- Determination and Proclamation of Votes - (a) On receipt, in accordance with this subtitle, of the...

Section 11-602 - Governor -- Commissions of Election - The Governor shall issue a commission to an individual elected...

Section 11-603 - State Board -- Certification of Results - (a) The State Board shall certify election results in accordance...

Section 11-604 - Member of Congress -- Effect of Certification - A certificate issued by the State Board to the Secretary...

Section 11-605 - Municipal Referenda -- Reporting of Results - (a) In a county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision...

Title 12 - Contested Elections

Subtitle 1 - Recounts

Section 12-101 - Petition for Recount - (a) A candidate for public or party office who has...

Section 12-102 - Counterpetition for Recount - (a) An opposing candidate of the petitioner under § 12-101...

Section 12-103 - Recount on Question -- Petition - (a) A petition for a recount based on the certified...

Section 12-104 - Recount on Question -- Counterpetition - (a) A counterpetition to a question filed under § 12-103...

Section 12-105 - Bond - (a) A petition or counterpetition filed under this subtitle shall...

Section 12-106 - Duties of the State Board and Local Boards - (a) In accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board,...

Section 12-107 - Costs - (a) In this section, “petitioner” includes a counterpetitioner. (b) (1)...

Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review of Elections

Section 12-201 - Scope of Subtitle - This subtitle applies to an issue arising in an election...

Section 12-202 - Judicial Challenges - (a) If no other timely and adequate remedy is provided...

Section 12-203 - Procedure - (a) A proceeding under this subtitle shall be conducted in...

Section 12-204 - Judgment - (a) The court may provide a remedy as provided in...

Title 13 - Campaign Finance

Subtitle 1 - General Provisions

Section 13-101 - Scope of Title - (a) This title applies to each election conducted in accordance...

Section 13-102 - Independent Expenditures by an Individual - Except for a candidate, this title does not prohibit an...

Section 13-103 - Summary of Campaign Finance Law; Forms - (a) (1) The State Board shall prepare a summary of...

Section 13-104 - Acceptance of Electronic Signature - The State Board may accept an electronic signature for any...

Section 13-105 - Disclosure of Donors and Donation Amounts by Inaugural Committees - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Subtitle 2 - Campaign Finance Organization and Activity

Part I - In General

Section 13-201 - Scope - Unless otherwise provided by law, this subtitle applies to all...

Section 13-202 - Campaign Finance Entity Required - (a) This section does not apply to a candidate for...

Section 13-203 - Campaign Finance Report Required - Each campaign finance entity shall comply with the reporting requirements...

Part II - Organization

Section 13-207 - Political Committees -- in General - (a) This section applies to a political committee other than...

Section 13-208 - Political Committees -- Statement of Organization - (a) This section applies to a political committee other than...

Section 13-208.1 - Legislative Party Caucus Committees - (a) Each political party may establish one legislative party caucus...

Section 13-209 - Slates - (a) Two or more candidates who have established separate campaign...

Section 13-210 - Lobbyists - (a) In this section, “lobbyist” means a regulated lobbyist as...

Section 13-212 - Campaign Manager - An individual may appoint a campaign manager by: (1) completing...

Part III - Campaign Finance Officers -- Responsibility, Qualifications, and Eligibility

Section 13-214 - Responsibility - (a) The responsible officers of a campaign finance entity are...

Section 13-215 - Qualifications and Eligibility - (a) Each chairman, treasurer, and campaign manager shall be a...

Part IV - Campaign Finance Activity and Records

Section 13-218 - Treasurer -- Control of Contributions and Expenditures - (a) All assets received by or on behalf of a...

Section 13-220 - Campaign Accounts - (a) (1) Each campaign finance entity shall designate one or...

Section 13-220.1 - Administrative Accounts - (a) Each central committee of a political party or legislative...

Section 13-220.2 - Political Action Committee Compliance Accounts - (a) Each political action committee may establish one compliance account....

Section 13-221 - Books and Records - (a) (1) The treasurer of a campaign finance entity shall...

Section 13-222 - Campaign Contribution Receipts - (a) (1) By the next deadline for filing a campaign...

Part V - Contributions -- Limits

Section 13-225 - In General - Except as otherwise provided by law, contributions may be made...

Section 13-226 - Contributions Other Than Transfers - (a) The limits on contributions in this section do not...

Section 13-227 - Transfers -- Limits - (a) In this section, a “campaign finance entity” includes a...

Section 13-228 - Transfers -- by Political Action Committee to Candidate - A political action committee that makes a transfer to the...

Section 13-229 - Transfers -- Prohibited - A transfer is not allowed if it is intended to...

Section 13-230 - Loans - (a) A loan to a campaign finance entity is considered...

Section 13-231 - Personal Funds -- Use by Candidate or Spouse - (a) (1) Contributions or loans to a campaign finance entity...

Section 13-232 - Contributions -- When Deemed Received - (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,...

Section 13-233 - Right of Individual to Volunteer - This Part V of this subtitle does not affect the...

Section 13-234 - Method of Money Contribution - (a) A contribution of money may be made only by:...

Part VI - Contributions -- Prohibitions

Section 13-235 - During General Assembly Session - (a) This section applies to the following officials: (1) the...

Section 13-236 - State Funded Entities - An entity that at any time during an election cycle...

Section 13-236.1 - Contributions or Donations by Foreign Principals - (a) In this section, “foreign principal” has the meaning stated...

Section 13-237 - Contributions by Applicants for or Holders of Video Operation Licenses, or Persons Owning an Interest in Operation of Video Lottery Facilities to Campaign Finance Entity of Candidate for Nonfederal Public Office - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Part VII - Contributions -- Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 13-239 - Anonymous Contributions -- in General - Except as provided in § 13–240 of this subtitle, if...

Section 13-239.1 - Prohibitions Regarding Receipt of Contributions as a Result of a Violation of 13-602(a)(5) - If a campaign finance entity receives a contribution as a...

Section 13-240 - Anonymous Contributions -- Money Received From Gaming Activity - (a) This section applies to a spin or chance on...

Section 13-241 - Payroll Deductions -- in General - (a) An employer may establish a program for collecting from...

Section 13-242 - Payroll Deductions -- Employee Membership Entities - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 13-243 - Collections by Membership Entities - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Part VIII - Expenditures -- Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 13-245 - Prohibited Expenditures - (a) In this section, “walk-around services” means the following activities...

Section 13-246 - Presentation of Claim for Payment - A person who claims that money is due from a...

Section 13-247 - Disposition of Surplus Funds - After all campaign expenditures have been made and before filing...

Section 13-248 - Requirements for Disbursement of Compensation - If a responsible officer of a campaign finance entity has...

Section 13-249 - Coordinated Expenditure or Donation in Excess of the Limits Prohibited - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Subtitle 3 - General Reporting Requirements

Part I - General Provisions

Section 13-301 - Registration Required for Out-of-State Political Committees - (a) In this section, “out–of–state political committee” means a nonfederal...

Part II - Reporting Requirements

Section 13-304 - Reports to the State Board or a Local Board - (a) (1) From the date of its organization until its...

Section 13-305 - Exception to Filing Requirements - (a) Instead of filing a report required under § 13–309...

Section 13-305.1 - Duties of Candidates Exempt Under 13-202(a) - A candidate for election to the central committee of a...

Section 13-306 - Independent Expenditure Report - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 13-307 - Electioneering Communication Report - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Part III - Deadlines and Reporting Periods

Section 13-309 - Filing Deadlines -- in General - (a) Subject to other provisions of this subtitle and except...

Section 13-309.1 - Filing Deadlines -- Disclosure Report Following Aggregate Expenditures of $10,000 or More - (a) In this section, “electioneering communication” has the meaning stated...

Section 13-309.2 - Registration and Report by Participating Organization - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 13-310 - Filing Deadlines -- Final Report Required - (a) This section applies to the campaign finance entity of...

Section 13-310.1 - Termination of Campaign Finance Entities on Death of Candidate - (a) Within 1 year after a candidate dies, the candidate’s...

Section 13-311 - Final Report -- Disposal of Funds - Before a campaign finance entity files a final campaign finance...

Section 13-312 - Reporting Periods - (a) Campaign finance reports filed under § 13–304 of this...

Section 13-313 - Termination of Campaign Finance Entity by the State Board - (a) The State Board may terminate a campaign finance entity...

Part IV - Place of Filing

Section 13-316 - Filing Location - A campaign finance report required by § 13-304 of this...

Part V - Implementing Provisions

Section 13-320 - Forms - The State Board shall prescribe the forms for the campaign...

Section 13-321 - Notice - (a) (1) In accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection,...

Section 13-322 - Timeliness - A campaign finance report is timely if: (1) regardless of...

Section 13-323 - Receipt - A board shall provide a receipt for a campaign finance...

Section 13-324 - Electronic Filing - (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this...

Part VI - Violations

Section 13-327 - Failure to File -- in General - (a) A campaign finance entity that fails to file a...

Section 13-328 - Failure to File -- Lists of Violators - (a) Within 10 days after the deadline for the filing...

Part VII - Sanctions

Section 13-331 - Late Filing Fees - (a) In accordance with subsection (b) of this section, the...

Section 13-332 - Disqualification -- Eligibility to Be Candidate or Treasurer - An individual may not become a candidate for any public...

Section 13-332.1 - Prohibition From Being Issued a Certificate of Nomination - (a) A candidate may not be issued a certificate of...

Section 13-333 - Disqualification -- Assuming Office - (a) An individual who, within the meaning of § 13-327...

Section 13-334 - Forfeiture of Salary - (a) This section applies to each individual holding public office...

Section 13-335 - Referral for Prosecution - (a) (1) If the State Board determines that there has...

Section 13-336 - Provisions Mandatory - Subject to § 13–337 of this subtitle, the provisions of...

Section 13-337 - Relief From Sanctions - (a) A sanction may not be imposed for failure to...

Part VIII - Administrative Procedures

Section 13-340 - Distribution of Fees - Fees for late filing of campaign finance reports, affidavits, or...

Section 13-341 - Retention of Documents - (a) (1) Each board shall receive and preserve all campaign...

Subtitle 4 - Campaign Materials

Part I - General Provisions

Section 13-401 - Authority Line - (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each...

Section 13-401.1 - Requirements Involving the Use of a Bot to Publish or Distribute Campaign Material Online - (a) (1) In this section the following words have the...

Section 13-402 - Advertising Rates - (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a person...

Section 13-403 - Retention of Copies - (a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each...

Section 13-404 - Regulations Governing Electronic Media - (a) In this section, “electronic media” means any electronic medium,...

Section 13-405 - Placement of Qualifying Paid Digital Communication on Online Platform - (a) (1) A person who directly or indirectly requests placement...

Section 13-405.1 - Investigation of Potential Violations of 13-401 or 13-405 by State Administrator; Injunctions - (a) (1) The State Administrator may investigate a potential violation...

Section 13-405.2 - Currency Requirements for Purchase or Sale of Campaign Material or Electioneering Communication - (a) In this section, “electioneering communication” has the meaning stated...

Part II - Legislative Newsletters

Section 13-406 - Definitions - (a) In this Part II of this subtitle the following...

Section 13-407 - Scope of Part - Part II of this subtitle does not restrict the use...

Section 13-408 - Payment of Publication Expenses - (a) Publication expenses may not be paid from public funds....

Subtitle 5 - Local Provisions

Section 13-501 - Special Provisions -- Prince George's County - As to contributions to the Prince George’s County Executive, a...

Section 13-502 - Special Provisions -- Montgomery County - As to contributions to the Montgomery County Executive, a member...

Section 13-503 - Special Provisions -- Howard County - As to contributions to the Howard County Executive, a member...

Section 13-504 - Special Provisions -- Frederick County - As to contributions to the County Executive of Frederick County...

Section 13-504.1 - Applicability of Maryland Public Ethics Law to Certain Members of Anne Arundel County - As to contributions to the County Executive of Anne Arundel...

Section 13-505 - System of Public Campaign Financing - (a) (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the...

Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts and Penalties

Section 13-601 - False Statements, Entries and Electronic Submissions - (a) A person may not willfully make a false, fraudulent,...

Section 13-602 - Prohibited Acts - (a) (1) A person may not directly or indirectly give,...

Section 13-603 - Other Violations -- Criminal Penalties - Except as otherwise expressly provided in this subtitle, a person...

Section 13-604 - Other Violations -- Civil Penalties - (a) (1) A person who violates a provision of this...

Section 13-604.1 - Civil Penalties; Procedure - (a) In this section, “person” includes a political committee. (b)...

Section 13-604.2 - Civil Penalties -- Campaign Finance Violations - (a) A candidate for election to the central committee of...

Section 13-605 - Injunction - (a) The Secretary of State may seek an immediate injunction...

Title 14 - Disclosure by Persons Doing Public Business

Section 14-101 - Definitions - (a) In this title the following words have the meanings...

Section 14-102 - Applicability - For purposes of this title, words and phrases defined under...

Section 14-103 - Attribution of Contribution to Candidate - A contribution to a campaign finance entity of a candidate...

Section 14-104 - Statement of Contributions - (a) A person doing public business shall file a statement...

Section 14-105 - Attributable Contributions - (a) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section,...

Section 14-106 - Contracts -- Time of Attribution - If a contract involves consideration to be paid over multiple...

Section 14-107 - Requirements; Notifications of Deficiencies; Amended Statements; Late Filing Fees; Violations - (a) (1) A governmental entity that has awarded a person...

Section 14-108 - Liberal Construction - This title shall be liberally construed to require full disclosure.

Section 14-109 - Regulations - The State Board may adopt regulations to implement this title.

Title 15 - Public Financing Act

Section 15-101 - Purpose - The General Assembly recognizes that our system of representative government...

Section 15-102 - Definitions - (a) In this title the following words have the meanings...

Section 15-103 - Fair Campaign Financing Fund - (a) There is a Fair Campaign Financing Fund. (b) The...

Section 15-104 - Campaign Finance Entity for Gubernatorial Candidate -- Donations Accepted -- Qualifying Level of Donors and Donations - (a) Before receiving a private contribution, a gubernatorial ticket shall:...

Section 15-105 - Qualifying Period for Gubernatorial Candidates to Collect Required Contributions - (a) For principal political party candidates, the qualifying period is...

Section 15-106 - Eligible Gubernatorial Ticket -- Prohibited Campaign Finance Activities - (a) After filing a notice of intent to qualify for...

Section 15-107 - Public Contributions -- Distributions - (a) (1) In accordance with subsection (c) of this section...

Section 15-108 - Withdrawal as Publicly Funded Candidate -- Actions Necessary if Public Contributions Already Received - (a) A gubernatorial ticket may withdraw from participation as a...

Section 15-109 - Public Contributions -- Use - (a) A public contribution may be spent only: (1) in...

Section 15-110 - Balance in Fund - (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,...

Section 15-111 - Administration of Title - (a) (1) Subject to § 15–103 of this title, the...

Section 15-112 - Violations - A person who violates this title is guilty of a...

Section 15-113 - Civil Penalty for Campaign Finance Violations -- Amount -- Timing of Payment to State Board by Campaign Finance Entity -- Citation of Violations -- Right to Stand Trial -- Prosecution -- Penalty Considerations - (a) In this section, “person” includes a political committee. (b)...

Section 15-114 - Short Title - This title is the Public Financing Act.

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Maryland Statutes Election Law

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