# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 6. Petitions

### Subtitle 1. Definitions and General Provisions

#### Section 6-101

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Affidavit" means a statement executed under penalty of perjury.

(c) "Chief election official" means:

  (1) as to the State Board, the State Administrator; or

  (2) as to a local board, the election director.

(d) "Circulator" means an individual who attests to one or more signatures affixed to a petition.

(e) "Election authority" means:

  (1) the State Board; or

  (2) as to a local petition, the local board for that county.

(f) "Legal authority" means:

  (1) the Attorney General; or

  (2) as to a local petition, the counsel to the local board appointed under Sec. 2-205 of this article for that county.

(g) "Local petition" means a petition:

  (1) on which the signatures from only one county may be counted; and

  (2) that does not seek to:

    (i) refer a public local law enacted by the General Assembly; or

    (ii) nominate an individual for an office for which a certificate of candidacy is required to be filed with the State Board.

(h) "Page" means a piece of paper comprising a part of a petition.

(i) "Petition" means all of the associated pages necessary to fulfill the requirements of a process established by the law by which individuals affix their signatures as evidence of support for:

  (1) placing the name of an individual, the names of individuals, or a question on the ballot at any election;

  (2) the creation of a new political party; or

  (3) the appointment of a charter board under Article XI-A, Sec. 1A of the Maryland Constitution.

(j) "Sponsor" means the person who coordinates the collection of signatures for a petition and who, if the petition is filed, is named on the information page as required by Sec. 6-201 of this title.

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Md. Code Ann., Election Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)