Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Maryland
- ️Fri Feb 09 2024
 in Maryland |
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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information. |
In order to get on the ballot in Maryland, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Maryland. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
Year-specific filing information
2024
U.S. Senate
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Maryland in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Maryland, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. Senate | Democratic or Republican | N/A | $290.00 | 2/9/2024 | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. Senate | Non-principal party | N/A | $290.00 | 8/2/2024 | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 10,000 | $290.00 | 8/5/2024 | Source |
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Maryland in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Maryland, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. House | Ballot-qualified party | N/A | $100.00 | 2/9/2024 | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 1% of the eligible voters for the district | $100.00 | 8/5/2024 | Source |
For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.
2022
U.S. Senate
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Maryland in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Maryland, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. Senate | Democratic or Republican | N/A | $290.00 | 4/15/2022 | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. Senate | Non-principal party | N/A | $290.00 | 8/3/2022 | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 10,000, or 1% of the total number of voters who are eligible to vote for the office, whichever is less | $290.00 | 8/3/2022 | Source |
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Maryland in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Maryland, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. House | Ballot-qualified party | N/A | $100.00 | 4/15/2022 | Source |
| Maryland | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 1% of the eligible voters for the district | $100.00 | 8/3/2022 | Source |
Governor
The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Maryland in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Maryland, click here.
| Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source | Notes |
| Maryland | Governor | Democratic or Republican | N/A | $290.00 | 4/15/2022 | Source | |
| Maryland | Governor | Unaffiliated | 10,000 | $290.00 | 8/3/2022 | Source |
2020
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Maryland in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Maryland, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
| Maryland | 1st Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 2nd Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 3rd Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 4th Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 5th Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 6th Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 7th Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 8th Congressional District | Principal parties | N/A | N/A | $100.00 | Fixed number | 1/24/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 1st Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,653 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 2nd Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,459 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 3rd Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,628 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 4th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,575 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 5th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,763 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 6th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,607 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 7th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,532 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
| Maryland | 8th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 2,748 | 1% of the eligible voters for the district (reduced by 50% by judge's order) | $100.00 | Fixed number | 8/3/2020 | Source |
2018
See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.
February 27, 20182016
- See also: Maryland elections, 2016
The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Maryland in 2016.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description |
| February 3, 2016 | Ballot access | Candidate filing deadline for major party candidates (Democrats and Republicans) |
| February 3, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for non-principal party candidates to file declarations of intent and statements of organization |
| February 3, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for petition candidates to file declarations of intent and statements of organization |
| March 1, 2016 | Campaign finance | Pre-Primary Report 1 due |
| March 25, 2016 | Campaign finance | Pre-Primary Report 2 due |
| April 19, 2016 | Campaign finance | Spring Report due |
| April 26, 2016 | Election date | Primary election |
| August 1, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for non-principal party candidates to file certificates of nomination, financial disclosure forms and filing fees |
| August 1, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for petition candidates to file petitions, financial disclosure forms and filing fees |
| August 30, 2016 | Campaign finance | Pre-General Report 1 due |
| October 20, 2016 | Ballot access | Filing deadline for write-in candidates |
| October 28, 2016 | Campaign finance | Pre-General Report 2 due |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election |
| November 22, 2016 | Campaign finance | Post-General Report due |
| January 18, 2017 | Campaign finance | 2017 Annual Report due |
| Sources: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Candidacy Introduction," accessed June 12, 2015 Maryland State Board of Elections, "Reporting Schedule," accessed June 12, 2015 |
2015
To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section. | |
|---|---|
There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative or congressional elections in Maine in 2015.[1] |
2014
To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Maryland held a primary election on June 24, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices:
The 2014 filing deadline for candidates seeking a political party's nomination by running in the state primary was February 25, 2014. Other state-recognized party candidates and independents needed to file a declaration on this date. The final filing deadline for these candidates was August 4, 2014.[2] Legend: Ballot access Campaign finance Election date
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Process to become a candidate
First page of Maryland's "Certificate of Nomination or Designation" form, 2013
See statutes: Election Law, Title 5 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
For principal party candidates
A candidate for federal, statewide, or state legislative office seeking the nomination of a principal political party in a primary election must submit to the Maryland State Board of Elections a certificate of candidacy, which notes the office being sought, the year of the election, the name and address of the candidate, and includes a statement verifying that the candidate satisfies the legal requirements for candidacy for the office being sought. A candidate for statewide or state legislative office must also submit a financial disclosure form to the Maryland State Ethics Commission.[4][5]
A principal party candidate must pay a filing fee. Fees vary according to the office being sought and are established by statute. Fees are detailed in the table below.[6]
| Filing fees for principal party candidates | |
|---|---|
| Office sought | Filing fee |
| Governor, Lieutenant Governor, United States Senator, Comptroller of the Treasury, Attorney General | $290 |
| United States Representative | $100 |
| Member of the General Assembly | $50 |
All required paperwork and filing fees must be submitted to the appropriate office by 9 p.m. on the last Tuesday in February of the election year. It should be noted that the certificate of candidacy must be submitted in person (or by certified mail, personal messenger, or delivery service if the candidate is unable to file in person due to illness, military service, or temporary absence from the state).[4][7]
For non-principal party candidates
Non-principal party candidates file paperwork in two phases. First, a candidate must submit a declaration of intent to the Maryland State Board of Elections. This form must be filed by the last Tuesday in February of the election year. A filing fee does not have to be paid at this time.[4][8]
By 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August of the election year, the candidate must submit to the Maryland State Board of Elections a certificate of nomination signed by the officers of the candidate's party (non-principal parties may determine for themselves the methods by which they nominate candidates). The candidate must also submit at this time the same financial disclosure form as principal party candidates. Non-principal party candidates must likewise pay the same filing fees as principal party candidates.[4][8]
For independent candidates
Independent candidates file paperwork in two phases. First, a candidate must submit a declaration of intent to the Maryland State Board of Elections. This form must be filed no later than the first Monday in July.[4][9][10]
By 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August of the election year, the candidate must submit a certificate of candidacy to the Maryland State Board of Elections and a financial disclosure form to the Maryland State Ethics Commission. The candidate must also submit to the Maryland State Board of Elections a petition signed by either 10,000 registered voters, or 1 percent of the total number of voters who are eligible to vote for the office being sought by the candidate, whichever is less. Independent candidates must also pay the same filing fees as party candidates.[4][9]
For write-in candidates
A write-in candidate for either the primary or general election who intends to have his or her votes tallied must file a certificate of candidacy and a financial disclosure form. The deadline for filing these materials with the appropriate office is the earlier of the following:[7]
- seven days after a total expenditure of at least $51 is made to promote the candidacy by the candidate's campaign finance entity
- 5 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the day of the election
Petition requirements
See statutes: Election Law, Title 6 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Maryland.
Format requirements
Forms for all petitions are prescribed by and can be obtained from the Maryland State Board of Elections. Each page of a petition containing signatures must include an affidavit by the circulator verifying that he or she personally witnessed each signature.[11][12]
Signature requirements
In addition to his or her signature, a petition signer must include his or her printed name, a, addressnd the date signed. Signers must be registered voters of the county specified on the signature page.[12]
Circulation requirements
Circulators must be at least 18 years old when signatures are made to the petition. No residency requirement for circulators is established in the relevant state statutes.[12]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Maryland can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Maryland Local Boards of Election
Maryland State Board of Elections
- Physical Address: 151 West Street, Suite 200
- Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6486
- Annapolis, MD 21401-0486
- Phone: 410-269-2840
- Toll free: 800-222-8683
- Fax: 410-974-2019
- Email: info.sbe@maryland.gov
- Website: http://www.elections.state.md.us/
Secretary of State
- 16 Francis St.
- Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Phone: 410-974-5521
- Fax: 410-974-5190
- Email: dlWebmaster_sos@maryland.gov
- Website: https://sos.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Maryland State Ethics Commission
- 45 Calvert Street, Third Floor
- Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Phone: 410–260–7770
- Toll free: 1–877–669–6085
- Fax: 410–260–7746
- Email: Jennifer.Allgair@Maryland.gov
- Website: http://ethics.maryland.gov/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Term limits
State executives
Gubernatorial term limits are established in Article 2, Section 1, of the Maryland Constitution. State executive term limits in Maryland are as follows:
- The governor is limited to two successive terms.[13]
- The lieutenant governor may serve a total of two terms with the current governor. There is no specific limit on how many terms one may serve as lieutenant governor in Maryland.
- The attorney general has no term limits.
- The state treasurer is elected by the General Assembly and has no term limits.
- The state comptroller is not subject to term limits.
State legislators
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
There are no term limits for Maryland state legislators.
Congressional partisanship
Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Maryland.
| Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Maryland | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
| Democratic | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Republican | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 8 | 10 |
State legislative partisanship
Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Maryland.
Maryland State Senate
| Party | As of March 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 34 | |
| Republican Party | 13 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 47 |
Maryland House of Delegates
| Party | As of March 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 102 | |
| Republican Party | 39 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 141 |
The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Maryland. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
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- The Ballot Bulletin: March 21, 2025
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- The Ballot Bulletin: March 7, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: February 28, 2025
- The Ballot Bulletin: February 21, 2025
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See also
- Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Maryland
- Ballot access requirements for political parties in Maryland
- Maryland elections, 2024
- Campaign finance requirements in Maryland
- Counties in Maryland
- List of United States Representatives from Maryland
- List of United States Senators from Maryland
- Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
- State executives with term limits
- States with gubernatorial term limits
- State legislatures with term limits
External links
Official state and federal links
- Maryland State Board of Elections
- Maryland State Ethics Commission
- Federal Election Commission
- Maryland State Board of Elections, "Candidacy"
Other information
- Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
- ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
- National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives
Footnotes
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Elections by Year," accessed February 9, 2015
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Candidacy," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Candidacy and Campaign Finance Legislative Update," September 24, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 5, Subtitle 3, Section 304," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Maryland State Ethics Commission, "State Employees/Officials," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 5, Subtitle 4, Section 401," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 5, Subtitle 3, Section 303," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 5, Subtitle 7, Section 703.1," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 5, Subtitle 7, Section 703," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Maryland Deadline Victory Confirmed," September 23, 2016
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Petitions and Candidacy," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 6, Subtitle 2, Section 204," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Maryland Constitution, "Article 2, Section 1," accessed February 11, 2014
