How to Run for Office in Maryland
Getting on the Ballot
Maryland candidates file a Certificate of Candidacy - in person at the appropriate election office (mail is allowed only in limited cases, with notarization for state offices): the State Board of Elections for statewide, legislative, and congressional offices, or the county board of elections for county and local offices. Filing fees are modest ($50 for General Assembly, under $300 even for governor), paid by check or money order.
The catch is the calendar: for even-year elections, the filing deadline falls in late February of the election year, with the primary following in early summer. Petition and write-in candidates have later deadlines and their own paperwork.
Two more things must be in order at the moment you file: an established campaign committee (Statement of Organization, filed electronically - and if you have an old committee, it must be in good standing with fees paid), and a financial disclosure statement - filed with the State Ethics Commission for state offices or the local authority for county offices, with the election boards accepting the form at candidate filing as a convenience.
Where Local Candidates File
Your county board of elections handles local certificate-of-candidacy filings and can walk you through the county-specific disclosure and fee details (school board arrangements vary by county). Campaign finance is statewide and electronic: committees register and file reports through the State Board's MD CRIS campaign finance system, regardless of office level.
Worth Knowing
- File early, not on deadline day: the in-person requirement plus the need for a registered committee and a completed financial disclosure makes Maryland's filing a multi-agency errand, not a form drop.
- If you filed your certificate in the year before the election, you must file a fresh financial disclosure after January 1 of the election year - a known trap for early filers.
- A candidate committee with unpaid late fees blocks your filing until resolved - check your committee's standing before you go.
Official Maryland Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.