Deadline: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by 9:00pm to file the following required documents.
Note: The filing period for National Convention Delegates is January 3, 2012 through January 11, 2012.

Certificate of Candidacy

A Certificate of Candidacy designating the individual as a candidate to appear on the Primary ballot for an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. Download the Statement of Organization.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates (a PDF is available for local candidates that describes the materials needed for filing). The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee.

Forms

Candidate Pledge Form for Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Deadline: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by 9:00pm to file the following required documents.

Certificate of Candidacy

A Certificate of Candidacy designating the individual as a candidate to appear on the Primary ballot for an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. Download the Statement of Organization.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates (a PDF is available for local candidates that describes the materials needed for filing). The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee.

(Only Green and Libertarian)

In order for a non-principal political party candidate to be placed on the General Election ballot on November 6, 2012, there are two major filing deadlines that must be met.

Deadline #1 – Tuesday, June 29, 2012 by 5:00p.m.

Declaration of Intent

A Declaration of Intent designating the individual as a candidate seeking the nomination of the political party to an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office. This action alone does not qualify a candidate for the General Election ballot.

Deadline #2 – August 6, 2012 by 5:00p.m.

The deadline to file the Statement of Organization, Financial Disclosure Statement, Certificate of Nomination, Certificate of Candidacy and filing fee are not required to be in person, however, they must be received by the election office by the deadline, and postmarks will not be accepted.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. This must be established prior to conducting any campaign finance activity.

Certificate of Nomination

The appropriate election office must receive official documentation, executed pursuant to the party’s constitution and/or by-laws, indicating the candidate’s nomination to the office sought. This document may come directly from the political party to the appropriate election office. If the appropriate election office does not receive the Certificate of Nomination, the candidate does not qualify for the ballot.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates. The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the General Election ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee. If filing by mail, it is not recommended to send cash.

After filing the required documents and payment of the fees, the Declaration of Intent automatically becomes the Certificate of Candidacy, making the candidate eligible to be placed on the General Election ballot.

In order for a petition candidate to be placed on the General Election ballot on November 6, 2012, there are two major filing deadlines that must be met.

Deadline #1 – Tuesday, June 29, 2012 by 5:00p.m.

Declaration of Intent

A Declaration of Intent designating the individual as a candidate seeking the nomination of the political party to an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office. This action alone does not qualify a candidate for the General Election ballot.

Deadline #2 – August 6, 2012 by 5:00p.m.

The deadline to file the Statement of Organization, Financial Disclosure Statement, Certificate of Nomination, Certificate of Candidacy and filing fee are not required to be in person, however, they must be received by the election office by the deadline, and postmarks will not be accepted.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. This must be established prior to conducting any campaign finance activity.

Petition

File the peition containing the required number of signatures for the office that you are seeking.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates. The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the General Election ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee. If filing by mail, it is not recommended to send cash.

After filing the required documents and payment of the fees, the Declaration of Intent automatically becomes the Certificate of Candidacy, making the candidate eligible to be placed on the General Election ballot.

1. General Information

• Candidates must file a Certificate of Candidacy with the appropriate State or local election office depending on the office sought.
• A Statement of Organization to form an authorized candidate campaign committee must accompany the Certificate of Candidacy (unless the candidate is already associated with a candidate committee or if running for federal office).
• Candidates must file a financial disclosure statement in accordance with State or local law (if applicable for that office) prior to or at the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy.
• A filing fee is not required for a write-in candidate.
• The candidate may file the Certificate of Candidacy by mail. All required documents should be mailed together. It is important to note, the Certificate of Candidacy and the Financial Disclosure Statement must be notarized for State office.

Recommendation: It is recommended that a write-in candidate file as early as possible in order to appear on various candidate lists including the write-in candidate list on the specimen ballots. Additionally, early filing enables the candidate the option to designate challengers and watcher at the polling place.

The Certificate of Candidacy may be filed in person. If filed in person, the candidate must provide identification (preferably a driver's license or official State ID).

2. Deadline

• Write-in candidates must file no later than the Wednesday before the General Election. If mailed, the appropriate election office must receive the Certificate of Candidacy and all requisite documents by the deadline. Timely postmarked or faxed copies will not be accepted. Original signatures are required. In no case will a filing be accepted later than 5:00 P.M. on the Wednesday before the General Election.
• However, if the write-in candidate or the authorized candidate campaign committee makes expenditures that are equal to or greater than $51 in the promotion of the candidate, then the Certificate of Candidacy must be file no later than 7 days after the $51 threshold is exceeded.

3. Campaign Finance Entity - Required

• Each write-in candidate must file a Statement of Organization to form an authorized candidate campaign committee except for federal Write-in candidates.
• The authorized candidate campaign committee must be formed regardless of whether the candidate plans to have any financial activity. The candidate committee is required to file campaign finance reports periodically during the election year.
• Candidates who do not plan to have campaign finance activity greater than $1,000 may file an Affidavit of Limited Contributions and Expenditures in lieu of a detailed campaign finance report. The Affidavit may be Efiled on this site. The Affidavit must be filed for every reporting period. Only when the Affidavit is marked final will the filing obligations end. It is the personal responsibility and liability of the Chairman and Treasurer of the committee to file the reports or Affidavit. The maximum late fee penalty is $250 per report.
• Prior to the campaign finance report filing deadline, the officers of the committee and the candidate will receive a pre-report notice (Blue postcard) in the mail. If you believe the notice was sent in error, please contact SBE immediately, otherwise late fees will accrue.

4. Voting

To cast a write-in vote on the voting machine

• Touch the box to the left of the word "Write-in" in the contest you wish to cast a write-in vote.
• Using the electronic keyboard, enter the candidate's name, last name first. Then press RECORD WRITE-IN to cast your vote. Your vote will not be counted unless the record button is pushed.
• Any abbreviation, misspelling, or minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate shall be disregarded in determining the validity of the write-in vote as long as the intended candidate can be determined. Writing the last name only will constitute a valid vote, unless there is more than one candidate with the same last name.
• Writing in the name of the candidate for Governor or the name of the Lieutenant Governor is sufficient to the cast of a vote for the joint office.
• Candidates may give out cards containing a diagram and instructions, including how to spell the candidate's name.

To cast a write-in vote on the audio ballot:

• A voter must select “Write-in” by following the audio ballot's recorded instructions for using the keypad to make selections.
• The voter will hear instruction for entering a write-in candidate's name using the keypad. Letters are assigned to the numeric keys similar to a telephone.
• The voter will use the keypad to enter, change and confirm each letter as he or she enters a write-in candidate's name.
• After entering a write-in candidate's name, the voter needs to follow the audio ballot's instructions to continue voting the rest of the ballot.
• The voter can follow the audio ballot's recorded instructions for changing a vote, including a write-in vote, before casing his or her ballot if he or she chooses.

To cast a write-in vote on an absentee or provisional ballot:

• A voter must write the name of the write-in candidate on the designated write-in line under the contest title.
• The voter must completely fill in the oval to the left of the write-in candidate's name.
• In the case of an absentee ballot, the voter will need to contact their local board of elections for a new ballot if he or she changes his or her mind after writing a write-in candidate's name before casting the ballot.
• In the case of a provisional ballot, the voter will need to see the Provisional Ballot Judge for a new ballot if he or she changes his or her mind after writing a write-in candidate's name before casting the ballot.

1. Primary Election - Presidential Candidates - Democratic and Republican only
   
   
   1. Selection by Secretary of State – Automatic ballot access is provided if the Secretary of State certifies the Presidential candidate to the State Board of Elections (SBE) as a result of the Secretary’s determination, in the Secretary’s sole discretion and consistent with party rules, that the candidate’s candidacy is generally advocated or recognized in the news media throughout the United States or in Maryland. See §8-502(c)(2) of the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
      
      NOTE: Filers should call the Secretary of State's office for details (410) 974-5521.
      
      OR
   
   
   2. Primary Election Presidential Petition Candidate – Democratic or Republican candidates not certified by the Secretary of State may gain ballot access by filing the following with SBE. A petition containing 400 registered voters from each of Maryland’s eight congressional districts. Additionally, the candidate must file a Certificate of Candidacy and Petition Information Page. See §8-502(b)(2) of the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
      
      NOTE: Filers should obtain a copy of the Primary Election Presidential Petition Candidate Packet for procedures and petition format specifications from the SBE office or website.


2. General Election – Unaffiliated Candidates- Petition
   
   A presidential candidate who is not registered with a political party must file the following with SBE no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 6, 2012:
   
   • Certificate of Candidacy
   • Petition Information Page; and
   • Petition Signature Pages containing the valid signatures of at least 1% of the registered voters of the State. The # of signatures required in 2012 is 31,041. See §5-703(e) of the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   
   
   NOTE: Filers should obtain a copy of the General Election Presidential Petition Candidate Packet for procedures and petition format specifications from the SBE office or website.
   
   Additional Deadlines:
   July 6, 2012 - Deadline to submit petition signature page for advance determination of sufficiency for petition format.


3. General Election- Recognized Political Party Presidential candidates
   
   A Presidential candidate who is registered with a recognized political party, other than the two principal parties, must file the following with SBE:
   • Certificate of Candidacy
   • Certification of Nomination


4. General Election - Newly Recognized Political Party Presidential Candidates
   
   Once a new political party has met the 10,000 signature requirements, held its organizational meeting and filed an approved Constitution and Bylaws with SBE, the political party may nominate their Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in accordance with its constitution and by-laws. See §4-102 of the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   
   The Presidential candidate must file with SBE:
   1. Certificate of Candidacy (if not nominated by a national party convention)
   2. Certificate of Nomination
   
   Note: If a new party seeks to have its candidates listed on the ballot and identified on the ballot as candidates of that party, it is recommended that the petition be filed well before the August 6, 2012 deadline, to ensure completion of all necessary requirements.


5. General Election- Nomination Deadline – All Presidential Candidates except for Petition
   
   The presiding officers of the nominating convention must certify the candidate's names and addresses to SBE not later than September 6, 2012.


6. General Election-Write-In Candidates
   
   Write-in candidates are not required to pay a filing fee or file in person, but are required to file a Certificate of Candidacy by 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2012 which is the Wednesday before the election. See § 5-303(c) of the Election Law Article The candidate may file a notarized Certificate of Candidacy by mail. All required documents should be mailed together.
   
   The Certificate of Candidacy may also be filed in person. If filed in person, the candidate must provide identification (preferably a driver’s license or official State ID). Recommendation: It is recommended that a write-in candidate file as early as possible in order to appear on various candidate lists including the write-in candidate list on sample ballots. Early filing does not guarantee candidates names to appear on candidate lists. Additionally, early filing enables the candidate the option to designate challengers and watcher at the polling place.


7. Presidential Electors
   
   The names and addresses of 10 individuals nominated as candidates for presidential electors by a candidate for President who is nominated by petition or by a political party shall be certified to SBE not later than 5:00 PM on October 5, 2012.
   
   See § 8-503-505 of the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Office hours for filing purposes:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Hours on January 11th only:  8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

1.  Qualifications: Candidates must be:

• 18 years or older at the time of the April 3, 2012 Primary Election;
• A registered voter affiliated with the political party you seek to represent; and
• A resident of the congressional district for which the candidate is seeking election.

2.  Filing Requirements:

• Candidates must file a Certificate of Candidacy in person* at the State Board of Elections on or before 9:00 p.m. January 11.
  
  * If a candidate is unable to file in person by reason of illness, military service or temporary absence from the State, the candidate may file an affidavit setting out fully such facts as prevent him from personally filing and such affidavit must be filed with the certificate of candidacy.  The affidavit must be notarized.  The affidavit and Certificate of Candidacy may be either mailed or hand delivered however must be received by this office not later than 9:00 p.m. on January 11, 2012.  Timely postmarks and fax copies cannot be accepted.


• Satellite Filing Locations - Candidates may file starting January 3, 2012 to January 11, 2012 at the following two satellite locations:
  
  
  • Washington County Local Board of Elections
    35 W. Washington Street, Room 101, Hagerstown, MD 21740-4833, (240) 313-2050
  • Wicomico County Elections Local Board of Elections
    123 Bateman Street, Salisbury, MD 21803-4091, (410) 548-4830
  
  
• There is no filing fee.


• Candidates must be prepared to provide the following information on the Certificate of Candidacy (Candidates can obtain/confirm information by contacting their local election office):
  
  
  • Party affiliation;
  • The number of your election district (not "legislative district"), or if you live in Baltimore City, your Ward;
  • The number of your precinct; and
  • The number of your congressional district.
  
  
• Candidates must present official identification at the time of filing (Driver's License, or other official form of identification).


• Democrats only: Candidates must file a Candidate Pledge Form for the Maryland Democratic Party.

3.  Withdrawal of Candidacy: In order to withdraw your candidacy you must file a Certificate of Withdrawal. The certificate must be notarized and mailed or hand delivered to the State Board of Elections by 5:00 p.m. on January 13, 2012 .   A faxed certificate will not be accepted.

4.  Authorization of Delegate by Presidential Candidate:

• The Presidential candidate must give written permission on the Presidential Candidate Designation of Authorized Representative form prescribed by the State Board to have the Presidential candidate's name placed adjacent to the delegate candidate's name on the ballot.
• The form with an original signature must be notarized and mailed or hand delivered to the State Board of Elections. A faxed or any other copy of the authorization form will not be accepted
  Deadlines: Democrats: January 17, 2012 COB 5:00 p.m.;  Republicans:  January 17, 2012 COB 5:00 p.m.
• Please contact Party for additional information on the authorization process.

5.  Where To Obtain Filing Forms and Requirements  -

• State Board of Elections;
• Democrats Only: Democratic Party Headquarters, 33 West Street, Suite 200, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, (410) 280-8818
• Republicans Only:  Republican Party Headquarters, 15 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, (410) 263-2125

7.  Reporting of Campaign Funds:

• Campaign finance reporting by convention delegates is regulated by Federal Law.
• Contact the Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, NW, Washington, D.C.  20463,  (800) 424-9530.