Running for Office 

Candidate Finances

For details about fund raising, financial disclosure forms and taxable political funds, call the Board of Elections at 410-887-5700 or visit the State Board of Elections website.

Qualifications - Filing Fees - and Where to File

Governor/Lt. Governor -- Filing Fee $290.00 (each)

• Registered voter and resident of the state 5 years immediately preceding election, 30 years of age at the time of the election. Not have served two immediately preceding elective terms. (Art. II, Sec. 1, 5, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

Comptroller -- Filing Fee $290.00

• Registered voter, (Art. I, Sec. 12 Md. Const. & Art. VI, Sec. 1 Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

Attorney General -- Filing Fee $290.00

• Qualified Voter, (Art. V, Sec. 4, Md. Const.). Citizen of the state, resided and practiced law in the state for 10 years. (Art. V, Sec. 4, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

U.S. Senator -- Filing Fee $290.00

• 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 the election. (Art. I, Sec. 3, U.S. Const.)
• Term of office: 6 years from January 3rd
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

Congressperson -- Filing Fee $100.00

• Registered voter, 25 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of the United States for 7 years, inhabitant of the state at the time of the election. (Art. I, Sec. 2, U.S. Const.)
• Term of office: 2 years from January 3rd
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

State Senator -- Filing Fee $50.00

• Registered voter, (Art. I, Sec. 12, Md. Const.), 25 years of age at 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, Sec. 9, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years from 2nd Wednesday in January
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

House of Delegates -- Filing Fee $50.00

• Registered voter, (Art. 1, sec. 12, Md. Const.), 21 years of age at time of the election, citizen of Maryland, resident at least 1 year preceding day of the election, resident of legislative district or subdistrict at least six months. (Art. III, Sec. 9, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years from 2nd Wednesday in January
• Where to file: State Board of Elections

Judge of the Circuit Court -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Qualified voter, (Art. IV, Sec. 2, Md. Const.), 30 years of age at time of 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, Sec. 2, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 15 years (or until he/she reaches the age of 70)
• Where to file: State Board of Elections
• Judgeship candidates may cross-file -- must pay double filing fees

County Executive -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, 25 years of age at the time of the election, resident of the county at least 5 years preceding his/her next election. (Sec. 402 Balto. Co. Charter)
• Term of office: 4 years
• The candidate must file a Financial Disclosure Statement with the Baltimore County Ethics Commission
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

County Council -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, 25 years of age at the time of the election, resident in councilmanic district seeking election in and 2 years prior thereto - General Election. (Article II Balto. Co. Charter)
• Term of office: 4 years
• The candidate must file a Financial Disclosure Statement with the Baltimore County Ethics Commission
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

Clerk of the Circuit Court -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, (Art IV, Sec. 25 Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

Register of Wills -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, (Art. IV, Sec. 41, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

Sheriff -- Filing Fee $25.00

• 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: Baltimore County Board of Elections

States Attorney -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, resident of Baltimore 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 from 1st Monday in January
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

Judge of the Orphans' Court -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, resident of Baltimore County at least 12 months prior to the election. (Art. IV, Sec. 40, Md. Const.)
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

Central Committee -- Filing Fee $10.00

• Registered voter, reside in the legislative district for which he/she is seeking election.
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: Baltimore County Board of Elections

Filing as a Petition Candidate

Call the Baltimore County Board of Elections at 410-887-5700 or visit the State Board of Elections website for qualifications.

Fair Election Practices

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 410-887-5700 or from the State Board of Elections in Annapolis.

Cost: $1.50 per booklet plus postage, if applicable.

Every candidate, at the time of, or prior to filing candidacy, must file the appointment of a treasurer and the acceptance of such appointment by that treasurer. The Board of Elections has a form, which will be supplied to prospective candidates upon request, for fulfilling this requirement.

No filing of candidacy can be accepted unless it is accompanied by the required appointment of and acceptance by a treasurer or, it has previously been filed by the candidate.

Revised January 26, 2006