2102

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 281

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

Article 33 - Election Code

4B-1.

(a) Any group of voters wishing to form a new political
party shall do so by filing with the State Administrative Board
of Election Laws a petition for formation of a political party
which shall declare their intention of organizing a State
political party, the name of which shall be stated in the
petition together with the name [and], address, TELEPHONE
NUMBER, AND SIGNATURE of the State chairman thereof and the names
and addresses of at least twenty-five persons who shall be
designated as constituting the governing body of the party. A
PETITION SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN AFFIDAVIT SIGNED BY THE STATE
CHAIRMAN WHICH STATES THAT THE LISTED NAMES CONSTITUTE THOSE
PERSONS ON THE GOVERNING BODY. Appended to the petition in the
manner hereinafter provided shall be papers bearing the
signatures of at least ten thousand [qualified] REGISTERED voters
of the State. If, after verification as required by this
section, the total required number of signatures of
[qualified] REGISTERED voters is not properly appended to the
petition, additional signatures may be filed. However, all of
the signatures, including any added after the initial filing,
must have been affixed to the appended papers not more than two
years prior to the filing date of the last qualifying signature,
and no voter's signature may be counted more than once.

(A-l) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, A PETITION FOR FORMATION OF A NEW POLITICAL PARTY, OR
ANY ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES TO A PETITION, MAY BE FILED AT ANY
TIME.

(2) A PETITION FOR FORMATION OF A NEW POLITICAL
PARTY, OR ANY ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES TO A PETITION, MAY NOT BE
FILED:

(I)  AFTER THE 5TH MONDAY PRECEDING OR DURING
THE 10 DAYS FOLLOWING A PRIMARY OR SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION;

(II)  AFTER THE 1ST MONDAY IN AUGUST PRECEDING
OR DURING THE 15 DAYS FOLLOWING A GENERAL ELECTION; OR

(III)  AFTER THE 5TH MONDAY PRECEDING OR DURING
THE 15 DAYS FOLLOWING A SPECIAL ELECTION.

(b) The State Administrative Board of Election Laws shall
prescribe the form of petitions filed under the provisions of
this subtitle. The signatures shall be on separate papers,
bearing one or more signatures, and being no more than 8 1/2
inches in width and 14 inches in length. Each paper shall