{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-108.3","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 4–108.3","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(2) “Ballot” means a ballot prepared by the State Board of Elections\nunder Title 9 of the Election Law Article.\n(3) “State Board” means the State Board of Elections.\n(b) A municipality may request that the State Board include on a ballot the\noffices and questions to be voted on in a municipal election.\n(c) (1) A municipality that makes a request under this section shall:\n(i) file the request with the State Board on or before the day\nthat is 9 months before the deadline date applicable for individuals who are required\nto file a certificate of candidacy as required under § 5–303 of the Election Law Article;\nand\n(ii) certify as part of the request that the charter of the\nmunicipality requires, and the municipality has established, deadlines and\nprocedures for the administration of municipal elections for the municipality that are\nconsistent with the deadlines and procedures for State and county elections\nestablished by the State Board with regard to:\n1. the filing of certificates of candidacy;\n2. the filling of a vacancy in office;\n3. the filing of a petition;\n4. the certification of a ballot question;\n5. voter registration; and\n6. voting.\n(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph,\nif the State Board previously included a municipal election on the ballot, that\nmunicipality’s elections may continue to appear on the ballot without the\nmunicipality filing an additional request under this section.\n(ii) A municipality shall file a request under this section if,\nsince the municipality’s election last appeared on the ballot, there has been a\nsignificant change in the method the municipality uses to conduct its elections.\n(3) Within 30 days after receipt of a municipality’s request under this\nsection, the State Board, after consultation with the local board in the county where\nthe municipality is located, shall notify the municipality of its decision whether to\ninclude the municipal election on the ballot.\n(d) If the State Board approves a municipality’s request under this section,\nthe State Board shall:\n(1) include the offices and questions at the end of the ballot; and\n(2) arrange the offices and questions in a similar order as other\noffices and questions are arranged on the ballot.\n(e) A municipality shall reimburse the State Board and the applicable local\nboard for any additional costs incurred by the State Board or local board on account\nof including the offices and questions to be voted on in a municipal election on the\nballot.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=4-108.3","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"11d06dc850390172897f3377e3257f66cdba1ab3458f6f7ca8604755d1451822","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-108.2","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-108.4"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}