Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle and in Title 3 of the Education Article, the provisions of this article relating to the nomination and election of candidates to public office shall govern the nomination and election of members to an elected county board of education.

Members of boards of education shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis. In a primary election to nominate board of education candidates, any registered voter of the county, regardless of party affiliation or lack of party affiliation, is eligible to vote in those contests for nomination. Candidates for election to boards of education shall, without party designation or regard to party affiliation: file certificates of candidacy; be certified to the ballot; appear on the ballot; be voted on; and be nominated and elected. This section does not apply to candidates for nomination or election to a board of education if Title 3 of the Education Article requires a partisan election.

Before certifying the name of a board of education candidate to appear on the ballot, the local board shall determine whether the candidate qualifies as provided under Title 3 of the Education Article and Title 5 of this article. Unless Title 3 of the Education Article requires a partisan election, an individual may not qualify as a board of education candidate or nominee by filing a petition or being nominated by a political party.

In each year that one or more members of a board of education are to be elected, candidates shall be nominated at the primary election. If a candidate dies or becomes disqualified before the ballots are printed, or at a time when the ballots can be reprinted, the name of the candidate may not appear on the ballot. If a candidate dies or becomes disqualified after the ballots are printed and too late for the ballot to be reprinted, any votes cast for that candidate may not be counted. The candidates, equal in number to twice the number of offices to be filled, who receive the largest number of votes in the primary election shall be the nominated candidates. If two or more candidates each receive the lowest number of votes necessary to qualify for nomination, creating a tie for the last nomination for the office to be filled, each shall be a nominated candidate.

If, after the primary election but before the general election, a nominee dies, declines the nomination, or becomes disqualified before the ballots are printed or at a time when the ballots can be reprinted, the name of the nominee may not appear on the ballot. If the number of remaining nominees is less than the number of offices to be filled, a new nominee shall be appointed in the same manner as provided in the Education Article for filling a vacancy on the board of education. If a nominee dies, declines the nomination, or is disqualified after the ballots are printed and too late for the ballot to be reprinted, and if that nominee receives sufficient votes to have been elected, the office shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled as if the vacancy had occurred during the term of office.

In a general election for board of education members, a voter may vote for a number of nominees equal to the number of members to be elected. The nominees, equal in number to the number of offices to be filled, who receive the largest number of votes in a general election shall be declared elected. If two or more nominees each receive the lowest number of votes necessary to qualify for election, creating a tie for the last office to be filled, the office shall be considered vacant. A vacancy occurring under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be filled: as if the vacancy occurred during the term of office for which the election is being held; and by the selection of one of the nominees who ties in the general election.