1624

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 286

inspection, and may microfilm these records at any time. At the
expiration of the five-year period, the original records shall be
forwarded to the State Administrative Board of Election Laws for
delivery to the [Hall of Records] STATE ARCHIVES.

8-3.

The State Administrative Board of Election Laws and the
several boards shall receive, file and preserve all certificates
of candidacy and of nomination which are filed with them under
the provisions of this article. These certificates of candidacy
and of nomination shall be kept as part of the records of the
board for a period not to exceed five years or for at least one
year beyond the length of the term of the public or party office
for which every candidate to whom these certificates of candidacy
and of nomination apply has offered himself for nomination or
election, regardless if the candidate is successful,
unsuccessful, or resigns, or for a longer period if ordered by a
court of competent jurisdiction. These certificates of candidacy
and of nomination shall be subject and open to inspection by any
citizen of this State during the hours in which the office in
which the certificates of candidacy and of nomination are kept is
open. Thereafter the certificates of candidacy and of nomination
shall be transferred to the [Hall of Records where they shall be
maintained in accordance with Article 54, § 10 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland] STATE ARCHIVES. Copies of these certificates of
candidacy and of nomination certified by the principal
administrative officer in whose office they are kept under the
seal of his office shall be evidence in any court to the same
extent as the original certificate of candidacy and of nomination
would be if produced and proved.

26-14.

Every officer or board shall receive, file and preserve all
reports, statements, and accounts relating to campaign
contributions and expenditures which are required to be filed by
this article. These reports, statements, and accounts shall be
kept as part of the records of the officer or board for a period
not to exceed five years or for at least one year beyond the
length of the term of the public or party office for which every
candidate to whom these reports, statements, or accounts apply,
has offered himself for nomination or election, regardless if the
candidate is successful, unsuccessful, or resigns, or for a
longer period if ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
These reports, statements, and accounts shall be subject and open
to inspection by any citizen of this State during the hours in
which the office in which the reports, statements, and accounts
are kept is open. Thereafter, the reports, statements, and
accounts shall be transferred to the [Hall of Records where they
shall be maintained in accordance with Article 54, § 10 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland] STATE ARCHIVES. Before transferring
any reports, statements or accounts to the [Hall of Records]
STATE ARCHIVES, the officer or board with whom they were filed
shall make a permanent record of all election reports required to