ANNAPOLIS (June 16, 2010) - Tuesday, July 6 at 9:00 pm is the deadline for an individual to file as a candidate for the upcoming 2010 elections. Under State law, an individual must file a Certificate of Candidacy or Declaration of Intent by 9:00 pm on the Monday that is 10 weeks or 70 days before the primary election. For the 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election, the filing date is Tuesday, July 6, because of the State holiday on Monday, July 5.
The location where the individual files depends on the office sought. All federal and State candidates file a Certificate of Candidacy or Declaration of Intent at the State Board of Elections, located at 151 West Street in Annapolis. Local candidates file at the local board of elections.
An individual filing as a candidate for the primary election must file a Certificate of Candidacy, while an individual seeking nomination of a political party other than the Democratic or Republican Parties or candidacy by petition must file a Declaration of Intent. Besides filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for primary election must pay a filing fee at the appropriate board of election, provide evidence that the candidate has filed a financial disclosure statement, and established a candidate committee at the State Board of Elections. Failure to meet any of the requirements prior to the deadline will invalidate the Certificate of Candidacy and remove the individual from the ballot.
A candidate who files a timely Declaration of Intent has until Monday, August 2, to complete his or her filing. By this date, the individual must file a Certificate of Nomination by the recognized non-principal political party or submit a petition containing 1% of the total number of registered voters in the district for the office sought, pay the filing fee, provide evidence that the candidate has filed a financial disclosure statement, and establish a candidate committee at the State Board of Elections.
The 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 14, and the Gubernatorial General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 2. Starting the 2nd Friday before the election through the Thursday before the election, voters can vote in person at an early voting center(s) in their county of residence. Early voting locations and hours and additional election-related dates and forms are available at www.elections.state.md.us.