1. (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Affidavit” means a statement executed under penalty of perjury.

3. (c) “Chief election official” means:

   1. (1) as to the State Board, the State Administrator; or
   2. (2) as to a local board, the election director.
4. (d) “Circulator” means an individual who attests to one or more signatures affixed to a petition.

5. (e) “Election authority” means:

   1. (1) the State Board; or
   2. (2) as to a local petition, the local board for that county.

6. (f) “Legal authority” means:

   1. (1) the Attorney General; or
   2. (2) as to a local petition, the counsel to the local board appointed under § 2-205 of this article for that county.

7. (g) “Local petition” means a petition:

   1. (1) on which the signatures from only one county may be counted; and

   2. (2) that does not seek to:

      1. (i) refer a public local law enacted by the General Assembly; or
      2. (ii) nominate an individual for an office for which a certificate of candidacy is required to be filed with the State Board.
8. (h) “Page” means a piece of paper comprising a part of a petition.

9. (i) “Petition” means all of the associated pages necessary to fulfill the requirements of a process established by the law by which individuals affix their signatures as evidence of support for:

   1. (1) placing the name of an individual, the names of individuals, or a question on the ballot at any election;
   2. (2) the creation of a new political party; or
   3. (3) the appointment of a charter board under Article XI-A, § 1A of the Maryland Constitution.
10. (j) “Sponsor” means the person who coordinates the collection of signatures for a petition and who, if the petition is filed, is named on the information page as required by § 6-201 of this title.

Added as Art. 33, § 6-101, by Acts 1998, c. 585, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 49, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Transferred to Election Law § 6-101 by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, c. 380, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003.

Formerly Art. 33, § 6-101.