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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 446

7-1.

(b)(1) A candidate for public office seeking

nomination by a petition shall file a certificate of candidacy
NOT LATER THAN 5 P.M. ON THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST IN THE
YEAR IN WHICH THE GENERAL ELECTION IS TO BE HELD at the
[time and] place and in the manner provided in Subtitle 4A
of this article and shall comply with all other applicable
provisions of the subtitle, in the same manner as candidates
for nomination at a primary election.

(b) (1) A candidate for public office seeking
nomination by petition shall file:

(I) A DECLARATION OF HIS INTENT TO SEEK
NOMINATION BY PETITION, IN A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF ELECTION LAWS, AT THE TIME AND PLACE
PROVIDED IN SUBTITLE 4A OF THIS ARTICLE FOR FILING, BY OTHER
CANDIDATES, OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY. A CANDIDATE
SEEKING NOMINATION BY PETITION MAY NOT BE CHARGED A FEE FOR
FILING A DECLARATION OF INTENT. A DECLARATION OF INTENT IS
NOT REQUIRED OF ANY CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN A YEAR IN
WHICH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS ELECTED.

(II) [a] A certificate of candidacy NOT
LATER THAN 5 P.M. ON THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST IN THE YEAR
IN WHICH THE GENERAL ELECTION IS TO BE HELD at the [time
and] place and in the manner provided in Subtitle 4A of this
article and shall comply with all other applicable
provisions of the subtitle, in the same manner as candidates
for nomination at a primary election.

(c) [(1) A portion of a petition that contains at
least one-third of the required total number of signatures
of eligible registered voters shall be filed with the
appropriate board at the time of the filing of the
candidate's certificate of candidacy.]

[(2)] (1) The [remainder of the] petition that
contains [the balance of] the required number of signatures
shall be filed with the appropriate board by not later than
5 p.m. on the first Monday in August in the year in which
the general election is to be held.

[(3)] (2) In the case of a candidate for an
office to be filed pursuant to § 22-1(b) of this article, a
petition that contains the total required number of
signatures shall be filed with the appropriate board [at the
time required for the filing of a certificate of candidacy
for the office.] NOT LATER THAN 5 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE
SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION.

(g) (1) The board shall verify all legitimate
signatures of persons who are registered voters and who have