1. A. Retention of Campaign Materials — In General. Except as provided in §§B and C of this regulation, a political committee shall retain a sample copy of each item of campaign material for at least 1 year after the general election next following the date when the campaign material item was published or distributed.

2. B. Retention of Electronic Media Advertisement. For each item of campaign material that is an electronic media advertisement, the political committee shall retain a sample copy for at least 1 year after the general election next following the date when the campaign material item was published or distributed in:

   1. (1) A paper format; or
   2. (2) A non-rewriteable electronic medium that can produce paper facsimile upon request.
3. C. Retention of Other Electronic Communications. For each message or communication published or distributed by means of social media, a micro-blog, application software, or bar code, the political committee or candidate shall retain a detailed log of the date and content of the text message or communications posted by the candidate or political committee for at least 1 year after the general election next following the date of the message or communication.

Authority: Election Law Article, §2-102(b)(4), 13-245, 13-401, and 13-404, and Title 13, Subtitle 4, Part I, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.05 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 20, 2010 (37:17 Md. R. 1182); emergency expired effective 12/20/10

Regulations .01—.05 adopted effective December 21, 2010 (37:21 Md. R. 1439)

Chapter revised effective August 19, 2013 (40:16 Md. R. 1347)

Regulation .01B amended effective May 6, 2019 (46:9 Md. R. 445)

Regulation .02D amended effective May 6, 2019 (46:9 Md. R. 445)

Regulation .02G adopted effective May 6, 2019 (46:9 Md. R. 445)

Regulation .02H, I adopted effective July 11, 2022 (49:14 Md. R. 705)

Regulation .06 amended effective March 27, 2017 (44:6 Md. R. 328)