§ 6–201
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 6-201 (2026)
Title 6. Petitions
Subtitle 2. Content and Process of Petitions
§ 6–201LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A petition shall contain:
(1)
an information page; and
(2)
signature pages containing not less than the total number of signatures required by law to be filed.
(b)
The information page shall contain:
(1)
a description of the subject and purpose of the petition, conforming to the requirements of regulations;
(2)
identification of the sponsor and, if the sponsor is an organization, of the individual designated to receive notices under this subtitle;
(3)
the required information relating to the signatures contained in the petition;
(4)
the required affidavit made and executed by the sponsor or, if the sponsor is an organization, by an individual responsible to and designated by the organization; and
(5)
any other information required by regulation.
(c)
Each signature page shall contain:
(1)
a description of the subject and purpose of the petition, conforming to the requirements of regulations;
(2)
if the petition seeks to place a question on the ballot:
(i)
a brief title that describes the topic, goal, or outcome of the ballot question;
(ii)
(1)
a fair and accurate summary of the substantive provisions of the proposal written in plain, clear language that:
(A)
a voter can easily understand;
(B)
does not explain the legal mechanism providing for the policy change; and
(C)
does not contain legal jargon or use double negatives or the passive voice; or
(2)
the full text of the proposal; and
(iii)
a brief statement explaining what the practical outcome of each voting choice would be;
(3)
a statement, to which each signer subscribes, that:
(i)
the signer supports the purpose of that petition process; and
(ii)
based on the signer’s information and belief, the signer is a registered voter in the county specified on the page and is eligible to have his or her signature counted;
(4)
spaces for signatures and the required information relating to the signers;
(5)
a space for the name of the county in which each of the signers of that page is a registered voter;
(6)
a space for the required affidavit made and executed by the circulator; and
(7)
any other information required by regulation.
(d)
If the petition seeks to place a question on the ballot and the sponsor elects to print a summary of the proposal on each signature page as provided in subsection (c)(2)(ii)1 of this section:
(1)
the circulator shall have the full text of the proposal present at the time and place that each signature is affixed to the page; and
(2)
the signature page shall state that the full text is available from the circulator.
(e)
A signature page shall satisfy the requirements of subsections (c) and (d)(2) of this section before any signature is affixed to it and at all relevant times thereafter.