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Signature requirements for ballot measures in Maryland
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| Laws • History |
| List of measures |
This page provides an overview of signature requirements for statewide citizen-initiated measures in Maryland. In Maryland, citizens can initiate veto referendums.
Requirements
In Maryland, the number of signatures needed to place a referendum on the ballot is equal to 3 percent of the total number of votes cast for the governor in the preceding election. The requirement for veto referendums on local laws is equal to 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for the governor in the affected jurisdiction.
Below are the signature requirements that referendum proponents must meet to get their initiatives on the ballot in that year, with gubernatorial election years bolded.
| Year | Signatures |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 60,157 |
| 2024 | 60,157 |
| 2022 | 69,135 |
| 2020 | 69,135 |
| 2018 | 51,996 |
| 2016 | 51,996 |
| 2014 | 55,736 |
| 2012 | 55,736 |
| 2010 | 53,650 |
| 2008 | 53,650 |
| 2006 | 51,185 |
| 2004 | 51,185 |
Changes in number of signatures
The following graph illustrates the number of signatures required for veto referendums (3 percent of the gubernatorial vote) from 2004 through 2026.
Basis of calculation
In Maryland, the number of signatures needed to place a veto referendum on the ballot is based on the total number of votes cast for the governor in the preceding election. The following numbers of votes were cast for the office of governor in each year listed:
| Year | Votes cast for governor |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,005,223 |
| 2018 | 2,304,512 |
| 2014 | 1,733,177 |
| 2010 | 1,857,880 |
| 2006 | 1,787,049 |
| 2002 | 1,706,179 |
Signature deadlines
In Maryland, the signature deadline for veto referendums depends on the targeted bill.
For non-emergency bills signed into law more than 45 days before the first day of June, the deadline to submit the first third of signatures for a veto referendum in Maryland is 12:00a.m. on the first day of June, which is the day on which the legislation would have gone into effect. The remaining two-thirds of the required signatures must be submitted by 12:00a.m. on the 30th day of June.[1]
For emergency bills or bills signed into law less than 45 days before the first day of June, the deadline to submit the first third of signatures for a veto referendum is 30 days after the legislature passed the bill. The deadline for the remaining two-thirds of the required signatures can be extended for another 30 days.[1]
Distribution requirement
In Maryland, no more than 50 percent of the required signatures for a veto referendum can come from any one county or the city of Baltimore.
See also
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Maryland
- Laws governing the referendum process in Maryland
- "Reasonable certainty" standard proposed for Maryland signatures
- Ficker v. Montgomery County
- Election result resources
- Voter guides
- State Blue Books
External links
Additional reading
- Maryland Board of Elections, "Petition Signature Gathering FAQ," accessed July 26, 2015
- Maryland Board of Elections, "Procedures for filing a statewide or public local law referendum petition," accessed July 28, 2015
Footnotes
