Important Updates

The deadline to file for candidacy was Friday April 15, 2022.

The deadline to withdraw candidacy for office is Monday April 18, 2022 by close of business.

For general information on Candidates and Campaign Finance, please call our office at 410-313-5820, contact the State Board of Elections at 410-269-2867, or visit the sites linked below.

For details about fundraising, financial disclosure forms and taxable political funds, visit the State Board of Elections website or call 800-222-VOTE.

Select a topic to learn more about running for office in Maryland
Title
Filing as a Petition Candidate
Content

Call the Howard County Board of Elections at 410-313-5820 or visit the State Board of Elections website for qualifications for a petition candidate and navigate to the Petition Candidates section.

Title
Fair Election Practices
Content

All candidates for office are required to conduct their campaigns in accordance with the Fair Election Practices statute. Summaries of this law, prepared by the Attorney General of Maryland, are available from the Board of Elections at 410-313-5820 or from the State Board of Elections in Annapolis.

Cost: $5.00 per booklet plus postage, if applicable.

Every candidate, at the time of, or prior to filing his or her candidacy, must file a State of Organization and appropriate financial disclosure at the proper office. Central Committee candidates do not have to file a financial disclosure. The Board of Elections has the forms needed to fulfill these requirements.

Title
Candidacy & Campaign Finance
Content

For general information on Candidates and Campaign Finance, please call our office at 410-313-5820, contact the State Board of Elections at 410-269-2867, or visit the sites linked below.

For details about fundraising, financial disclosure forms and taxable political funds, visit the State Board of Elections website or call 800-222-VOTE.

Candidate Filing Information and Useful Links

Title
Board of Education of Howard County Financial Disclosure Statement
Content

View the Board of Education Financial Disclosure Statement at the link below.

Board of Education of Howard County Financial Disclosure Statement

Title
2022 Maryland Gubernatorial Election Calendar
Content

View the 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial Election Calendar at the link below.

2022 Maryland Gubernatorial Election Calendar

Qualifications, Filing Fees, Term of Office, and Where to File
Title
Governor/Lieutenant Governor
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $290.00 (each)

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter and resident of the state 5 years immediately preceding the election; 30 years of age at the time of the election. Not have served two immediately preceding elective terms. (Art. II, Sect. 1, 5, MD. Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January.

Where to File:

Title
Comptroller
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $290.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter. (Art. I, Sect. 12 MD Const. & Art. VI, Sect. 1 MD Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January

Where to File:

Title
Attorney General
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $290.00

Qualifications:

  • Qualified voter (Art. V, Sect. 4, MD Const.). Citizen of the state, resided and practiced law in the state for 10 years (Art. V, Sect. 4, MD Const.).

Term of Office:

  • 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January

Where to File:

Title
US Senator
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $290.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter, 30 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of the United States for 9 years, inhabitant of the state at the time of election. (Art. I, Sect. 3, US Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 6 years from January 3rd.

Where to File:

Title
US Congressperson
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $100.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter, 25 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of the Unites States for 7 years, inhabitant of the state at the time of the election. (Art. I, Sect. 2, US Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 2 years from January 3rd

Where to File:

Title
State Senator
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $50.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter (Art. 1, Sect. 12, MD Const.), 25 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of Maryland, resident at least one year preceding the day of the election, resident of legislative district at least six months. (Art. III, Sect. 9, MD Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years from 2nd Wednesday in January

Where to File:

Title
State Delegate
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $50.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter (Art. I, Sect. 12, MD Const.), 21 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of Maryland, resident at least 1 year preceding the day of the election, resident of legislative district or subdistrict at least six months. (Art. III, Sect. 9, MD Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years from 2nd Wednesday in January

Where to File:

Title
Judge of the Circuit Court
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Qualified voter (Art. IV, Sect. 2, MD Const.), 30 years of age at the time of the election, resident of the state at least 5 years, resident of the judicial circuit for which he/she is seeking election at least 6 months prior to the election, member of Maryland Bar. (Art. IV, Sect. 2, MD Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 15 years (or until he/she reaches the age of 70)

Where to File:

Title
County Executive
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • In General: The Executive shall be a resident of the County for a period of not less than five years immediately prior to election and a registered voter at the time of filing for candidacy and shall be not less than thirty years of age at the time of his or her election.
  • Other Offices: No person shall qualify or serve as Executive while holding any other office of profit or trust of or under State, County or Federal government, while employed by the County; or while employed by any agency, board, commission, unit or other entity which receives funds through the County budget. No Executive shall, during the whole term for which he or she was elected, be eligible for appointment to any County office or position or be eligible for employment by the County.

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
County Council
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • In General: Each candidate for the council shall have resided in the County for a period of not less than two years immediately prior to nomination; shall be a registered voter; and shall be a resident of the Council District which the candidate seeks to represent at the time of filing for candidacy and during the full term of office; and shall not be less than twenty-five years of age at the time of election.

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
County Treasurer
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • In General: The Treasurer shall be a resident of the County for a period of not less than five years immediately prior to election and a registered voter at the time of filing for candidacy and shall be not less than thirty years of age at the time of his or her election.
  • Other Offices: No person shall qualify or serve as Executive while holding any other office of profit or trust of or under State, County or Federal government, while employed by the County; or while employed by any agency, board, commission, unit or other entity which receives funds through the County budget. No Executive shall, during the whole term for which he or she was elected, be eligible for appointment to any County office or position or be eligible for employment by the County.

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter (Art. IV, Sect. 25 MD Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
Register of Wills
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter (Art. IV, Sect. 41 MD Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
Sheriff
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter, 25 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of the state at least 5 years preceding the election, resident of the subdivision in which he/she is seeking election. (Art. IV, Sec. 44, Md. Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
Board of Education
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter and resident of Howard County

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
States Attorney
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter, resident of Howard County for at least 2 years prior to the election (Art. V, Sec. 10, Md Const.)
  • Member of the Maryland Bar

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
Judge of the Orphans' Court
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $25.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter, resident of Howard County at least 12 months prior to the election (Art. IV, Sec. 40, Md Const.)

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections
Title
Central Committee
Content

Filing Fee:

  • $10.00

Qualifications:

  • Registered voter, reside in the legislative district for which he/she is seeking election an other qualifications as specified by the party's bylaws.

Term of Office:

  • 4 years

Where to File:

  • Howard County Board of Elections

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