LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ELECTIONS

LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS

Boards of Elections (by county)

[photo, Allegany County Board of Elections, County Office Building, Suite 213, 701 Kelly Road, Cumberland, Maryland]

In Maryland, local boards of elections originated as boards of supervisors of elections. The first such board formed in Baltimore City in 1876 (Chapter 223, Acts of 1876). By 1892, boards of supervisors of elections were authorized for all Maryland counties (Chapter 701, Acts of 1892). These boards were renamed boards of elections effective January 1, 1999 (Chapter 585, Acts of 1998).

Allegany County Board of Elections, County Office Building, Suite 213, 701 Kelly Road, Cumberland, Maryland, July 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Election House, 1872-1972, Sang Run (Garrett County), Maryland]

Each local board of elections is responsible for maintaining voter registration, and overseeing the conduct of all State and federal elections held in its jurisdiction. Local boards of elections are supervised by the State Board of Elections (Code Election Law Article, sec. 2-201).

Election House, 1872-1972, Sang Run (Garrett County), Maryland, October 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Election House sign, 1872-1972, Sang Run (Garrett County), Maryland]

Local boards of elections are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate consent. In all but two counties, each board consists of five members. Two members and one substitute come from the majority political party, and one member and substitute come from the principal minority party (Code Election Law Article, secs. 2-201 through 2-207).

Election House sign, 1872-1972, Sang Run (Garrett County), Maryland, October 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

In Montgomery County, the board has seven members. Three members and one substitute are of the majority party, and two members and one substitute are of the principal minority party (Code Election Law Article, sec. 2-201).

In Prince George's County, the board holds five members and three substitutes. Four members and two substitutes come from the majority party, and one member and one substitute are of the principal minority party (Code Election Law Article, sec. 2-201).