# COMAR Title 33 — State Board of Elections

## Subtitle 06 — Petitions

### Chapter 02 — Information Page

**Authority:** Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 6-103, and 6-201, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date:

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 636); adopted permanently effective July 10, 2000 (27:13 Md. R. 1212)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02B, C amended effective January 16, 2006 (33:1 Md. R. 41)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02B, C amended as an emergency provision effective June 21, 2006 (33:15 Md. R. 1277); amended permanently effective September 25, 2006 (33:19 Md. R. 1562)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02B, C, D, E amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03C amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .04B amended as an emergency provision effective June 21, 2006 (33:15 Md. R. 1277); amended permanently effective September 25, 2006 (33:19 Md. R. 1562)

#### Regulation .01 In General.

*COMAR 33.06.02.01*

The information page of every petition shall contain the information required by:

A. Election Law Article, Title 6, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

B. This chapter.

#### Regulation .02 Subject and Purpose.

*COMAR 33.06.02.02*

A. Description Required. The information page shall include a description of the subject and purpose of the petition, as required by:

  (1) Election Law Article, §6-201(b)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

  (2) This regulation.

B. Presidential Primary Candidate. For a petition under Election Law Article, §8-502, Annotated Code of Maryland, to place a presidential candidate on a primary election ballot, the description shall include the candidate's:

  (1) Name as it is to appear on the ballot;

  (2) City and state where the candidate resides; and

  (3) Party affiliation.

C. General Election Candidate. For a petition under Election Law Article, §5-703, Annotated Code of Maryland, to place a candidate on a general election ballot, the description shall include the:

  (1) Candidate's name as it is to appear on the ballot;

  (2) Candidate's city and state where the candidate resides;

  (3) Candidate's party affiliation; and

  (4) Office being sought, including the applicable district.

D. Formation of Political Party. For a petition under Election Law Article, §4-102, Annotated Code of Maryland, to form a new political party, the description shall include:

  (1) A statement of intent to organize a State political party;

  (2) The name of the proposed political party;

  (3) The name of the proposed political party's State chair and the city and state where proposed party's State chair resides; and

  (4) The names and addresses of the individuals who, under Election Law Article, §4-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, will constitute the proposed political party's initial governing body.

E. Referral of Act of General Assembly. For a petition under Article XVI of the State Constitution to refer an Act or part of an Act of the General Assembly, whether a public general law or a public local law, the description shall include:

  (1) The Act's bill number;

  (2) The Act's “Short Title”; and

  (3) If applicable, a copy of the summary approved by the Attorney General of the Act or part of the Act being petitioned.

F. Local Petition—Creation of Charter Board. For a petition under Article XI-A of the State Constitution to create a charter board for a county, the description shall include:

  (1) The name of the county; and

  (2) A statement of whether the petition is being brought under §1 or §1A of Article XI-A of the State Constitution.

G. Local Petitions—Nominations to Charter Board. For a petition under Article XI-A of the State Constitution to nominate members for a county charter board, the description shall include:

  (1) The name of the county;

  (2) A statement of whether the petition is being brought under §1 or §1A of Article XI-A of the State Constitution; and

  (3) The name and address of each person sought to be nominated by that petition.

H. Local Petitions—Charter Amendment Initiative. For a petition under Article XI-A of the State Constitution to amend a county charter, the description shall include:

  (1) The name of the county;

  (2) A citation to the specific charter provision sought to be modified, repealed, or added by the amendment; and

  (3) A fair and accurate summary of the substantive provisions of the amendment.

I. Local Petitions—Referral of Local Act. For a local petition to refer an act of a county's governing body, the description shall include:

  (1) The name of the county;

  (2) The act's bill or other identification number;

  (3) The act's short title or other short-form identification;

  (4) A fair and accurate summary of:

    (a) The substantive provisions of the act, or

    (b) If only a part of the act is to be referred, the substantive provisions of that part; and

  (5) Any other information required by local law.

#### Regulation .03 Sponsor Identification.

*COMAR 33.06.02.03*

A. Identification Required. The information page shall include an identification of the sponsor, as required by:

  (1) Election Law Article, §6-201(b)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

  (2) This regulation.

B. Information To Be Provided. The identification shall include, for each of the persons described in §C of this regulation, that person's:

  (1) Name;

  (2) Mailing address;

  (3) Telephone number;

  (4) Electronic facsimile (fax) number, if any; and

  (5) E-mail address, if any.

C. Persons to Whom Applicable. The information specified in §B of this regulation shall be given for:

  (1) The sponsor; and

  (2) If the sponsor is an organization:

    (a) An individual who has been designated by the organization to receive notices in connection with the petition, or

    (b) For a petition to form a new political party, the State Chair.

#### Regulation .04 Signatures Summary.

*COMAR 33.06.02.04*

A. Summary Required. The information page shall include a summary of signature pages, as required by:

  (1) Election Law Article, §6-201(b)(3), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

  (2) This regulation.

B. Information To Be Provided. The summary shall include:

  (1) For each county, the:

    (a) Number of signature pages; and

    (b) Total number of signatures on those pages;

  (2) The total number of signature pages for all counties;

  (3) The total number of all signatures;

  (4) The total number of signatures for each congressional district, if the petition is for placing a presidential candidate on a primary election ballot;

  (5) The date on which the first signature was obtained; and

  (6) The date on which the last signature was obtained.

#### Regulation .05 Advance Determination.

*COMAR 33.06.02.05*

A. Statement Required. The information page shall include a statement of whether the petition format had been submitted under Election Law Article, §6-202, Annotated Code of Maryland, for an advance determination of its sufficiency.

B. Copy of Determination. If an advance determination was sought, a copy of that determination shall be attached to the information page.

#### Regulation .06 Sponsor's Affidavit.

*COMAR 33.06.02.06*

A. Affidavit Required. The information page shall include an affidavit, as required by:

  (1) Election Law Article, §6-201(b)(4), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

  (2) This regulation.

B. Scope and Tenor. The affidavit shall state that, to best of the affiant's knowledge and belief, all of the information given on the information page is true and correct.

C. By Whom Made. The affidavit shall be signed and dated by:

  (1) The sponsor; or

  (2) If the sponsor is an organization:

    (a) An individual responsible to the organization who has been designated by the organization to receive notices in connection with the petition, or

    (b) For a petition to form a new political party, the State Chair.