The conduct of voter registration and elections in Maryland is supervised by the Board, which adopts rules and regulations to help the boards of elections in each county and Baltimore City with elections, voting, and voter registration. The Board, in consultation with local boards of elections, selects and certifies, the uniform statewide voting system for polling places and absentee voting (Chapter 564, Acts of 2001). To regulate the financing of campaigns for State and county offices, the Board administers the Fair Election Practices Act (Code Election Law Article, secs. 13-101 through 13-604). In addition, the Board prepares and certifies ballots, administers petitions, and publishes Constitutional amendments.
In odd-numbered years, the Board meets with the boards of elections from the counties and Baltimore City to instruct them, their employees, and counsel on their duties in the conduct of elections. The Board also administers the voter registration-by-mail program.
Registration and Election Laws of Maryland, which is for sale to the public, is published by the Board. Also available are primary and general election returns beginning with 1948. More recent returns are published as booklets and are available on-line from the Board.
The Board consists of five members appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Each member must belong to a principal political party with neither party having more than three or less than two members.
The State Administrator of Elections receives and audits financial reports of candidates required under the Election Code (Code Election Law Article, secs. 13-401 through 13-404). Appointed by the Board, the State Administrator also serves as secretary to the Board of State Canvassers (Code Election Law Article, secs. 2-103, 11-501 through 11-503).
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