City of Glenarden, MD Chapter 14 Elections

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Glenarden as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

Article I Candidate Petition Filing Fee

[Adopted 4-12-2010 by Ord. No. O-06-2010]

§ 14-1 Payment of fee required.

A candidate for the office of Mayor or councilmember, upon the filing of a candidacy petition as required by Section 705 of the City Charter, shall pay a fee in the amount of to the Board of Elections.

Article II Absentee Voting

[Adopted 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. O-03-2013]

§ 14-2 Absentee voting.

A. Any qualified voter who may be unavoidably absent from the City or who is otherwise prevented from being present and personally voting at the polls on any municipal election day may vote as an absentee voter under the provisions contained in this section.

B. This section applies to elections for all candidates, Charter amendments and ballot questions, at any City election held in any year.

C. Printed application forms for absentee ballots shall be provided by the Board of Elections.

D. Absentee ballots shall be available for mailing or distribution 25 days prior to the election to which they apply. Applications for absentee ballots shall be accepted by the Board until close of business on the Tuesday prior to the election. The Board or its designee shall keep a record of each application for an absentee ballot showing the date and time of the receipt of the application, the name and address of the applicant and any designated agent. Such records shall also show the date and time of the delivery or mailing of the absentee ballot to the applicant or designated agent. Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the Board of Elections during normal business hours or hours as designated by the Board at the Municipal Center and at such other locations as the Board may designate. Absentee ballots may be obtained and submitted in person by a designated agent for a voter who is unable to pick up or submit the ballot. A designated agent may not be a candidate on the ballot.

E. When the application is received by mail, the Board shall issue the absentee voting ballot by return mail. When the application is presented in person by the voter or a duly designated agent, the Board shall issue the absentee voting ballot to the voter or duly designated agent at the time of application.

F. Beginning on the Wednesday preceding the election through the Friday preceding the election, a registered voter or the voter's duly designated agent may apply in person for an absentee ballot due to an emergency, such as illness, unplanned work obligations, or other unexpected occurrences. An emergency application for an absentee ballot issued under this subsection shall be supplied by the Board to the voter or the voter's duly authorized agent. The application shall be made under penalty of perjury but without a formal oath and shall include the reason for the request. The Board shall issue an absentee ballot to the voter or the voter's duly designated agent based on the emergency nature of the request.

G. All absentee voting ballots must be received on or before the Friday prior to the election. The ballots are to remain in the unopened official return envelope in which they are received and be placed in a ballot box which is designated for the purpose of storing absentee ballots until they are to be counted. Ballots returned in any envelope other than the official return envelope shall be destroyed and not counted.

H. The Board shall open all absentee ballots only after all the polling places have been closed. Absentee ballots are thereafter to be opened, approved as to form, and totaled. Challenges with respect to whether an absentee ballot has been validly obtained or timely filed must be made prior to opening. The grand total of the ballots cast at the polling places and the ballots cast in absentia shall thereafter be added together and included in any official election result as determined by the Board.

I. Absentee ballots are to be preserved in the same manner as prescribed for any other election ballots.

J. In the event that an absentee ballot for an individual is received by the Board and that individual also votes in person, then the absentee ballot shall be invalidated.