Md. Code, Election Law § 5-401
This is the official text of Md. Code, Election Law § 5-401, part of Maryland’s Code, Election Law — governs how elections are conducted.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§5–401.
Official statutory text
(a) (1) This section does not apply to a write–in candidate.
(2) Unless exempted under subsection (c) of this section, an individual who files a certificate of candidacy shall pay a filing fee at the time the certificate of candidacy is filed.
(b) The filing fee shall be as follows:
(1) President and Vice President of the United States No fee
(2) Governor or Lieutenant Governor $290 each
(3) Comptroller of the Treasury $290
(4) Attorney General $290
(5) United States Senator $290
(6) Representative in Congress $100
(7) Member of the General Assembly $50
(8) Mayor of the City of Baltimore $150
(9) Comptroller of the City of Baltimore $150
(10) City Council of Baltimore:
(i) President $150
(ii) member at large voted on by the voters of the entire City of Baltimore……………………………………………………………………………………….$150
(iii) member voted on by less than the entire City of Baltimore………………………………………………………………………………………...$50
(11) offices of the City of Baltimore, not specified in items (8), (9), and (10) of this subsection, that are voted on by the voters of the entire City of Baltimore……………………………………………………………………………………….$150
(12) any other public office $25
(13) member of a party central committee $10
(c) (1) A candidate may petition for a waiver of the filing fee in accordance with this subsection.
(2) The filing fee required by this section shall be waived if the candidate establishes inability to pay the fee.
(3) A candidate may demonstrate inability to pay the filing fee by attaching to the certificate of candidacy when it is filed a sworn statement on the form prescribed by the State Board of inability to pay which sets forth:
(i) the nature, extent, and liquidity of the candidate’s assets; and
(ii) the candidate’s disposable net income.
(4) At its discretion and in order to conduct any investigation of the petition for waiver, the appropriate board may request that the candidate provide additional information concerning the candidate’s financial status.
(5) If the appropriate board determines that the candidate is unable to pay the required filing fee, the certificate of candidacy shall be issued without payment of the fee.
(2) Unless exempted under subsection (c) of this section, an individual who files a certificate of candidacy shall pay a filing fee at the time the certificate of candidacy is filed.
(b) The filing fee shall be as follows:
(1) President and Vice President of the United States No fee
(2) Governor or Lieutenant Governor $290 each
(3) Comptroller of the Treasury $290
(4) Attorney General $290
(5) United States Senator $290
(6) Representative in Congress $100
(7) Member of the General Assembly $50
(8) Mayor of the City of Baltimore $150
(9) Comptroller of the City of Baltimore $150
(10) City Council of Baltimore:
(i) President $150
(ii) member at large voted on by the voters of the entire City of Baltimore……………………………………………………………………………………….$150
(iii) member voted on by less than the entire City of Baltimore………………………………………………………………………………………...$50
(11) offices of the City of Baltimore, not specified in items (8), (9), and (10) of this subsection, that are voted on by the voters of the entire City of Baltimore……………………………………………………………………………………….$150
(12) any other public office $25
(13) member of a party central committee $10
(c) (1) A candidate may petition for a waiver of the filing fee in accordance with this subsection.
(2) The filing fee required by this section shall be waived if the candidate establishes inability to pay the fee.
(3) A candidate may demonstrate inability to pay the filing fee by attaching to the certificate of candidacy when it is filed a sworn statement on the form prescribed by the State Board of inability to pay which sets forth:
(i) the nature, extent, and liquidity of the candidate’s assets; and
(ii) the candidate’s disposable net income.
(4) At its discretion and in order to conduct any investigation of the petition for waiver, the appropriate board may request that the candidate provide additional information concerning the candidate’s financial status.
(5) If the appropriate board determines that the candidate is unable to pay the required filing fee, the certificate of candidacy shall be issued without payment of the fee.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Maryland?
Find a Maryland lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.