§ 6-101. Definitions

   (a) In general. -- In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) Affidavit. -- "Affidavit" means a statement executed under penalty of perjury.

(c) Chief election official. -- "Chief election official" means:

   (1) as to the State Board, the State Administrator; or

   (2) as to a local board, the election director.

(d) Circulator. -- "Circulator" means an individual who attests to one or more signatures affixed to a petition.

(e) Election authority. -- "Election authority" means:

   (1) the State Board; or

   (2) as to a local petition, the local board for that county.

(f) Legal authority. -- "Legal authority" means:

   (1) the Attorney General; or

   (2) as to a local petition, the counsel to the local board appointed under § 2-205 of this article for that county.

(g) Local petition. -- "Local petition" means a petition:

   (1) on which the signatures from only one county may be counted; and

   (2) that does not seek to:

      (i) refer a public local law enacted by the General Assembly; or

      (ii) nominate an individual for an office for which a certificate of candidacy is required to be filed with the State Board.

(h) Page. -- "Page" means a piece of paper comprising a part of a petition.

(i) Petition. -- "Petition" means all of the associated pages necessary to fulfill the requirements of a process established by the law by which individuals affix their signatures as evidence of support for:

   (1) placing the name of an individual, the names of individuals, or a question on the ballot at any election;

   (2) the creation of a new political party; or

   (3) the appointment of a charter board under Article XI-A, § 1A of the Maryland Constitution.

(j) Sponsor. -- "Sponsor" means the person who coordinates the collection of signatures for a petition and who, if the petition is filed, is named on the information page as required by § 6-201 of this title.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 33, § 6-101; 2002, ch. 291, § 2, 4; 2003, ch. 380.