Ch. 704                            MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 1485

Approved May 24, 1973.

CHAPTER 705
(Senate Bill 725)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 3-8(b), 3-9A(a), and
7-l(b) of Article 33 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement
Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Election Code," subtitles "Registration of
Voters - General Provisions," and "Nomination by Petition," to change the
time limit prior to [[an election]] certain elections for a change of party
affiliation or registration and [[matters related thereto]] relating generally to
registration reports and information.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Sections 3-8(b), 3-9A(a), and 7-l(b) of Article 33 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement),
title "Election Code," subtitles "Registration of Voters - General Provisions," and
"Nomination by Petition," be and they are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

3-8.

(b) Voters already registered as declines who wish to affiliate with a party, or
voters who wish to change their party affiliation, or voters who wish to change
from affiliation with a party to registration as a decline, may do so at any time
prior to [six] FOUR months before any [[regular]] PRIMARY election or, in
the case of a special primary and special election pursuant to § 22-1 (b) of this
article, at any time prior to the date on which the Governor issues a proclamation
directing that such elections be held.

3-9A.

(a)     Within fifteen days after the commencement of the [six-month] FOUR
MONTH period before a primary election in which voters already registered shall
not be allowed to affiliate with a party or change party affiliation for purposes of
this article, pursuant to § 3-8(b) of this article, AND AT OTHER TIMES AS
DIRECTED BY THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF ELECTION
LAWS, the board for each county of the State and for the City of Baltimore shall
submit to the State Administrative Board of Election Laws a report of registration
setting forth the following information, as shown on the books of the respective
board as of the date of the commencement of the said [six-month] FOUR
MONTH period:

(1)  The name of each political party with which one or more registered voters in
their respective county or in the City of Baltimore are then affiliated; and

(2)   The total number of registered voters affiliated with each such political
party.

7-1.

(b)    A candidate for public office seeking nomination by petition shall file a
certificate of candidacy under the provisions of the subtitle "Certificate of
Candidacy" of this article with a sworn statement attached that he has on file with
the election board or the several boards of the State petitions signed by not less