Candidate Filing Appointment Form
Click on the link below to schedule your appointment to file for candidacy.
Important Dates & Resources
The deadline to file for candidacy is Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 9:00 PM.
The deadline to withdraw from candidacy for office is Friday, March 6, 2026 by 5:00 PM.
Local candidates may call the Howard County Board of Elections at 410-313-5820 for more information.
For general information on Candidates and Campaign Finance, please contact the State Board of Elections at 410-269-2880.
Financial disclosures are specific to the office sought. Call our office if you need guidance on which financial disclosure is required.
For details about fundraising and taxable political funds, visit the State Board of Elections website or call 410-269-2880.
Select a topic to learn more about running for office in Maryland
For general information on Candidates and Campaign Finance, please call our office at 410-313-5820, contact the State Board of Elections at 410-269-2867, or visit the sites linked below.
For details about fundraising and taxable political funds, visit the State Board of Elections website or call 410-269-2880.
Click the link below to download the Board of Education Financial Disclosure Statement.
View the 2026 Maryland Gubernatorial Election Calendar at the link below.
Call the Howard County Board of Elections at 410-313-5820 or visit the State Board of Elections website for qualifications for a petition candidate and navigate to the Petition Candidates section.
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.
Qualifications, Filing Fees, Term of Office, and Where to File
Filing Fee:
- $290.00 (each)
Qualifications:
- Registered voter and resident of the state 5 years immediately preceding the election; 30 years of age at the time of the election. Not have served two immediately preceding elective terms. (Art. II, Sect. 1, 5, MD. Const.)
Term of Office:
- 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January.
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $290.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter. (Art. I, Sect. 12 MD Const. & Art. VI, Sect. 1 MD Const.)
Term of Office:
- 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $290.00
Qualifications:
- Qualified voter (Art. V, Sect. 4, MD Const.). Citizen of the state, resided and practiced law in the state for 10 years (Art. V, Sect. 4, MD Const.).
Term of Office:
- 4 years from 3rd Wednesday in January
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $290.00
Qualifications:
- 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 election. (Art. I, Sect. 3, US Const.)
Term of Office:
- 6 years from January 3rd.
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $100.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter, 25 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of the Unites States for 7 years, inhabitant of the state at the time of the election. (Art. I, Sect. 2, US Const.)
Term of Office:
- 2 years from January 3rd
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $50.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter (Art. 1, Sect. 12, MD Const.), 25 years of age at the 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, Sect. 9, MD Const.)
Term of Office:
- 4 years from 2nd Wednesday in January
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $50.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter (Art. I, Sect. 12, MD Const.), 21 years of age at the time of the election, citizen of Maryland, resident at least 1 year preceding the day of the election, resident of legislative district or subdistrict at least six months. (Art. III, Sect. 9, MD Const.)
Term of Office:
- 4 years from 2nd Wednesday in January
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $50.00 (Circuits 1-7)/$300.00 (Circuit 8)
Qualifications:
- Qualified voter (Art. IV, Sect. 2, MD Const.), 30 years of age at the time of the 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, Sect. 2, MD Const.)
Term of Office:
- 15 years (or until he/she reaches the age of 70)
Where to File:
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- 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 eligible for employment by the County.
Term of Office:
- 4 years
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- 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
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- In General: The Treasurer 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 eligible for employment by the County.
Term of Office:
- 4 years
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter (Art. IV, Sect. 25 MD Const.)
Term of Office:
- 4 years
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter (Art. IV, Sect. 41 MD Const.)
Term of Office:
- 4 years
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- 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
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter and resident of Howard County. Must run in the Councilmanic District in which you live, unless you are running for an At-Large position.
Term of Office:
- 4 years
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- 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
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections
Filing Fee:
- $25.00
Qualifications:
- 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
Filing Fee:
- $10.00
Qualifications:
- Registered voter, reside in the legislative district for which he/she is seeking election an other qualifications as specified by the party's bylaws.
Term of Office:
- 4 years
Where to File:
- Howard County Board of Elections