Running for Office

Candidate Finances

For general information on Candidates and Campaign Finance, please call our office at 410-313-5820.

For details about fund raising, financial disclosure forms and taxable political funds, visit the State Board of Elections website or call 800-222-VOTE.

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

• In General. The Executive shall be a resident of the County for a period of not less than five years immediately prior to election and a registered voter at the time of filing for candidacy and shall be not less than thirty years of age at the time of his or her election.
• Other Offices. No person shall qualify or serve as Executive while holding any other office of profit or trust of or under State, County or Federal government, while employed by the County; or while employed by any agency, board, commission, unit or other entity which receives funds through the County budget. No Executive shall, during the whole term for which he or she was elected, be eligible for appointment to any County office or position or be eliglible for employment by the County.
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Where to file: Howard County Board of Elections

County Council -- Filing Fee $25.00

• In General: Each candidate for the council shall have resided in the County for a period of not less than two years immediately prior to nomination; shall be a registered voter; and shall be a resident of the Council District which the candidate seeks to represent at the time of filing for candidacy and during the full term of office; and shall not be less than twenty-five years of age at the time of election
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: Howard County Board of Elections

Clerk of the Circuit Court -- Filing Fee $25.

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

Board of Education - Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter and resident of Howard County
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Where to file: Howard County Board of Elections

States Attorney -- Filing Fee $25.00

• Registered voter, resident of Howard 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: Howard County Board of Elections

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

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

Central Committee -- Filing Fee $10.00

• Registered voter, reside in the legislative district for which he/she is seeking election and other qualifications specified by the party's bylaws.
• Term of office: 4 years
• Where to file: Howard County Board of Elections

Filing as a Petition Candidate

Call the Howard County Board of Elections at 410-313-5820 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 410-313-5820 or from the State Board of Elections in Annapolis.

Cost: $5.00 per booklet plus postage, if applicable.

Every candidate, at the time of, or prior to filing his or her candidacy, must file a State of Organization and appropriate financial disclosure at the proper office. Central Committee candidates do not have to file a financial disclosure. The Board of Elections has the forms needed to fulfill these requirements.