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

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

2. 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. (1) Name as it is to appear on the ballot;
   2. (2) City and state where the candidate resides; and
   3. (3) Party affiliation.

3. 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. (1) Candidate's name as it is to appear on the ballot;
   2. (2) Candidate's city and state where the candidate resides;
   3. (3) Candidate's party affiliation; and
   4. (4) Office being sought, including the applicable district.

4. 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. (1) A statement of intent to organize a State political party;
   2. (2) The name of the proposed political party;
   3. (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. (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.

5. 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. (1) The Act's bill number;
   2. (2) The Act's “Short Title”; and
   3. (3) If applicable, a copy of the summary approved by the Attorney General of the Act or part of the Act being petitioned.

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

7. 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. (1) The name of the county;
   2. (2) A statement of whether the petition is being brought under §1 or §1A of Article XI-A of the State Constitution; and
   3. (3) The name and address of each person sought to be nominated by that petition.

8. 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. (1) The name of the county;
   2. (2) A citation to the specific charter provision sought to be modified, repealed, or added by the amendment; and
   3. (3) A fair and accurate summary of the substantive provisions of the amendment.

9. 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. (1) The name of the county;
   2. (2) The act's bill or other identification number;
   3. (3) The act's short title or other short-form identification;

   4. (4) A fair and accurate summary of:

      1. (a) The substantive provisions of the act, or
      2. (b) If only a part of the act is to be referred, the substantive provisions of that part; and
   5. (5) Any other information required by local law.

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

Effective date:

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)

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

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)

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

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

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)