Maryland Shifts Candidate Filing Deadline After Court Order

FREDERICK, Md. — The candidate filing deadline for Maryland’s June primary has been moved to March 22, while the deadline to withdraw one’s candidacy has been shifted to March 24.

The formal changes in the state’s electoral calendar Monday came after Maryland’s highest court said the change was needed to give it more time to consider legal challenges to the new district maps approved by the General Assembly in January.

Though the board of elections initially announced the change as impacting the governor’s race, the order signed late Friday night by Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty of the Maryland Court of Appeals actually applies to anyone who wants to run for local, county or state offices.

The delay could lead to more candidates running for office and will also provide more time for candidates to get their message out to voters before deciding whether to drop out of the race, officials said.

Ordinarily under state law in Maryland, an individual must file a Certificate of Candidacy by 9 p.m. on the last Tuesday in February in the year in which the primary election will be held.

This year, however, the February deadline loomed as the court weighs four challenges to the redrawn congressional and legislative district maps

Opponents argue that the maps violate the state constitution and the maps are gerrymandered.

The notice of the change in filing date was issued through the Frederick County Board of Elections. It states that a prospective candidate’s filing location depends on the office sought.

All federal and state candidates file a Certificate of Candidacy at the State Board of Elections, located at 151 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland.

Local candidates must file at their local county board of elections, and they must make an appointment to do so as county offices remain closed to the public due to COVID-19 and walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

In addition to filing the Certificate of Candidacy, all candidates must pay a filing fee at the appropriate board of elections. 

State and local candidates must also provide evidence that the candidate has filed a financial disclosure statement and established a candidate committee at the State Board of Elections. 

Candidates for Democratic Party central committee are not required to establish an authorized candidate campaign committee if the candidate spends $1,000 or less in personal funds on the election and receives no contributions. Candidates that filed a Certificate of Candidacy prior to Jan. 1, 2022 must file a new financial disclosure statement with the appropriate ethics agency prior to March 22, 2022. 

Failure to meet any of the requirements prior to the deadlines will invalidate the Certificate of Candidacy and remove the individual from the ballot.

The 2022 Maryland Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, and the 2022 General Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.