1. (a) Except for a candidate for a nonpartisan county board of education, this section applies to any candidate for public office subject to this title.
2. (b) A candidate for a public office may be nominated by a political party under this subtitle if the political party is not required to nominate its candidates by party primary.

3. (c)

   1. (1) This subsection does not apply to a candidate nominated by a new political party under § 4-102(f) of this article.
   2. (2) A candidate for public office who seeks political party nomination under this section shall file a declaration of intent to seek political party nomination.
   3. (3) The declaration of intent shall be filed with the board at which the candidate files a certificate of candidacy under Subtitle 3 of this title.

   4. (4) The declaration of intent shall be filed as follows:

      1. (i) not later than the first Monday in July; and

      2. (ii) for a special election to fill a vacancy:

         1. 1. for Representative in Congress, by the date and time specified in the Governor's proclamation; or
         2. 2. for a local public office, by the date and time specified in the county proclamation.
   5. (5) A candidate who seeks nomination by political party may not be charged a fee for filing the declaration of intent.

4. (d)

   1. (1) A candidate for public office who seeks nomination by political party shall file a certificate of candidacy not later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August in the year of the general election for the office.
   2. (2) Except for the time of filing, the certificate of candidacy for a candidate who seeks nomination by political party shall comply with the requirements for a certificate of candidacy under Subtitle 3 of this title.

5. (e)

   1. (1) A candidate for nomination by political party may not have the candidate's name placed on the general election ballot unless the candidate files with the appropriate board, on a form the State Board prescribes, a certificate of nomination signed by the officers of the political party.
   2. (2) In a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of Representative in Congress, a certificate of nomination shall be filed with the State Board by 5 p.m. on the day of the special primary election.

Added by Acts 2006, c. 120, § 1, eff. April 25, 2006. Amended by Acts 2015, c. 332, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2017, c. 786, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2019, c. 155, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2020, c. 10, § 1, eff. Feb. 3, 2020.