PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 32

CHAPTER 32
(House Bill 91)

AN ACT concerning

Elections - Write-in Candidates

FOR the purpose of altering the deadline by which a write-in candidate shall file the
certificate of candidacy for election; and generally relating to write-in campaigns.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 33 - Election Code
Section 4D-1

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1993 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 33 - Election Code

4D-1.

(a)     Any person or combination of two or more persons who expends $51 or more
to organize, promote, or assist in any manner the success of any person or persons seeking
to obtain write-in votes for any public office to be filled at a general election is a political
committee for the purposes of this article.

(b)     A write-in candidate is required to file a certificate of candidacy for election.
The certificate shall be filed with the same agency as if the write-in candidate were filing
for office under § 4A-2 of this article. The certificate may be filed without payment of a
filing fee.

(c)     The certificate of candidacy for election of a write-in candidate shall be filed
no later than 7 days after a total expenditure of $51 is made by him or in his behalf by a
committee authorized by him to promote his candidacy, but shall not be filed later than
5:00 p.m. on the [day] WEDNESDAY preceding the day of the election for which the
certificate is filed.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1996.

Approved April 9, 1996.

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