A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated unless a contrary meaning is clearly intended from the context in which the term appears:
BALLOT
Paper ballots or absentee ballots, or the labels which appear on the face of voting machines, whichever context would be appropriate.
BOARD
The Board of Elections of the City and the members thereof.
BOARD LIAISON
The person who shall work with the County Board in the development and implementation of a plan of universal registration. The Board Liaison shall be the City Clerk.
CAMPAIGN AGENT
Any person appointed by any candidate, or his representative, to promote or assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate, Charter amendment, principle or proposition submitted to a vote at any municipal election.
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Any combination of two or more persons appointed by a candidate or any other person, or formed in any other manner, which assists or attempts to assist in any manner the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate, Charter amendment, principle or proposition submitted to a vote at any municipal election.
CANDIDATE
Any person who files a certificate of candidacy for any municipal public office. As set forth hereinbelow, when a masculine pronoun is used in this chapter in reference to a "candidate," it is intended to include the feminine gender.
CONTRIBUTIONS
The gift, transfer or promise of gift or transfer of money or other thing of value to any candidate, or his representative, to promote or assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate, Charter amendment, principle or proposition submitted to a vote at any municipal election.
COUNTY BOARD
The Board of Elections of Prince George's County, Maryland, and the members thereof.
COUNTY BOARD LIAISON
The person chosen by the County Board to work with the Board in the development and the implementation of a plan of universal registration as set forth in the Anno. Code of Md., Elections, § 3-403, Municipal Registration Procedures.
ELECTION
The process by which voters of this City vote for any municipal public officer pursuant to the laws of the state or the United States, or the Charter of the City, and any Charter amendment, proposition or principle.
ELECTION DISTRICT
That division of geographical area within the City for purposes of election designated from time to time by the City Council by Charter amendment or ordinance.
EXPENDITURE
Any gift, transfer, disbursement or promise of money or other valuable thing by any candidate to promote or assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate, Charter amendment, principle or proposition submitted to a vote at any municipal election.
LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS or LIST
The list of registered voters of the City included on the statewide voter registration list and prepared by the County Board. Sometimes referred to herein as the voter register or registry.
REGISTRATION
The act by which a person becomes qualified to vote in any municipal election.
TREASURER
Any person appointed by a candidate, campaign agent or campaign committee to receive or disburse money or other things of value to promote or assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate, Charter amendment, principle or proposition submitted to a vote at any municipal election.
VOTER
A person whose name appears on the voter register.
B. 
Whenever in this chapter words or phrases are used denoting the masculine gender, they shall be taken to include the feminine gender.
C. 
In computing the times for notice to be given, or for the performing of any other act, under this chapter, Sunday shall be included, except when the day on which notice should be given or an act should be performed occurs on a Sunday, in which case the notice shall be given or the act performed on the Monday following. In such computation the day of giving notice or performing any act and the day of registration or election shall be excluded.
D. 
Whenever the singular is referred to in any provision, section or subsection it shall also include the plural except where such construction would be unreasonable.
A. 
Four city election districts are established pursuant to Section 22 of the City Charter. The geographical boundaries of the election districts shall be maintained in the City Clerk's office and shall be depicted on a map on the City's website entitled, "City Election Districts." The map shall be made available to the public upon request.
B. 
The Council shall, as is required by City Charter, Section 22, evaluate the election districts of the City to ensure that the representation is reasonably equal, and shall have the power to change the boundaries thereof.
C. 
The effective date of any change of boundaries shall be determined by the Council.
Pursuant to the Anno. Code of Md., Elections Law, Subtitle 5, Statewide Voter Registration List, the Maryland State Board of Elections and the Prince George's County Board of Elections shall maintain the voter registry for the City of Bowie and update the registry by removing from the voter registry names of any person who has died, terminated residence in the City or who has otherwise become disqualified. The City of Bowie Board of Elections shall accept the list of registered voters provided by the Prince George's County Board of Elections as a valid registration list for the City.
A. 
Each member of the Board of Elections, including the Chairperson, shall receive compensation in an amount established by the City Council in the City budget for any year in which there is a regular or special election. Calculations and payment shall be on a fiscal year basis.
B. 
Each alternate to the Board shall be compensated only if the alternate works on election day or if the alternate attends a Board meeting. An alternate shall receive compensation for working on election day and for each meeting attended in an amount established by the City Council in the City budget.
A. 
Appointment; oath. The Board shall have the power to appoint a sufficient number of Chief Judges, Judges and Alternate Judges as may be required for the conduct of City elections consistent with the funding provided therefor in the applicable City budget. Such Chief Judges, Judges and Alternate Judges shall subscribe to the oath of office set forth in Section 92 of the City Charter.
B. 
Qualifications. Each Chief Judge, each Judge and each Alternate Judge so appointed must be a registered voter of the City, must be able to speak, read and write the English language and, during the time of the Judge's term of appointment as a Chief Judge, Judge or Alternate Judge, must not be a candidate for any Federal, State, County or City elected office.
C. 
Compensation. Each Chief Judge, Judge, and Alternate Judge shall receive compensation for attending training programs and performing duties on the day of an election in an amount established by the City Council in the applicable City budget; provided, however, that an Alternate Judge shall only receive compensation for performance of duties on the day of an election if that Alternate Judge has been requested to work by the Board.
D. 
Duties. The Chief Judges and the Judges shall perform such duties as directed by the Board. With the exception of attending training programs, an Alternate Judge shall have no duties until such time as the Board shall direct the Alternate Judge to serve. When serving, the Alternate Judge shall perform such duties as the Board has directed. There shall be one Chief Judge at each polling place. The Chief Judge is the senior official and is the supervisor of the judges.
The procedure for establishing candidacy of a person seeking elective office in the City shall be as provided for in City Charter, Section 28, Procedure for Filing of Candidacy.
Any candidate who has established a candidacy for elective office under the provisions of City Charter, Section 28, may withdraw from candidacy at any time up until 30 days prior to the date of an election. Any person withdrawing as a candidate for any reason shall not be entitled to any refund of the filing fee.
A. 
Each of the Judges has the authority to keep the peace and to cause any person to be arrested for any breach of the peace, or for any breach of the election laws of the City, or any interference with the progress of an election, the canvass of ballots or the ascertainment and transcription of the votes recorded on any voting equipment. It shall furthermore be unlawful for any person to canvass, electioneer or post any campaign material in a polling place or on public property within the radius established from the entrance and exit of the building closest to that part of the building in which voting occurs. This radius shall be that established pursuant to Annotated Code of Maryland, Election Law, § 16-206(B), as amended from time to time.
B. 
This section is not intended to prevent vehicles bearing campaign stickers or signs from using public thoroughfares that may be within the established radius, provided that vehicles are not parked. Nor is this section intended to prevent canvassing, electioneering and posting of any campaign material outside of the prescribed limit.
C. 
It shall be the duty of all officers of the law present to obey the order of any member of the Board of Elections, and an officer making an arrest at the direction of any such member shall be protected in so doing fully as if a warrant had been issued to him to make such arrest.
A. 
Authorized. Each candidate or campaign committee shall have the right to designate a registered voter as a challenger and watcher at each place of registration and election. Designated challengers and watches shall be assigned to such position near the judges, inside the registration or polling room, as to enable them to see each person as he/she offers to register or vote. The challengers and watchers shall be protected in the discharge of their duty by the judges and the police.
B. 
Certificate as evidence of right to be present. Each challenger and watcher shall present a certificate signed by a candidate or chairperson of a campaign committee as evidence of the right of such challenger and watcher to be present in the registration or polling room.
C. 
Rights; unlawful acts. Each challenger and watcher shall have the right to remain in the polling place from the time the polls are opened until the returns are completed. It shall be unlawful for any such challenger and watcher to inquire or ascertain for what candidate any voter may intend to vote, or has voted, or to converse with any voter in the polling place or within 100 feet thereof or to assist a voter in the preparation of the voter's ballot or in the operation of the voting equipment. Any challenger and watcher offering or attempting to do so shall lawfully be ejected by the judges and shall also be subject to the punishment provided in this chapter. A challenger and watcher also may be removed from a polling place by an election judge or member of the Board of Elections if the person interferes with the electoral process or violates any City Election law or regulation.
D. 
Removal. A challenger and watcher may be removed as a challenger and watcher at any time by the same person who appointed the challenger or watcher.
E. 
Other persons allowed in polling places. Persons other than accredited challengers and watchers who desire to challenge the vote of any person shall be permitted to enter the polling place for that purpose, but a majority of the judges may limit the number of persons to be allowed in the polling places at any one time for such purpose, and all such persons shall leave the polling place as soon as the right to vote of the person challenged by them has been decided.
F. 
Form of certificate. The form for the certificate of a challenger and watcher shall be included in the candidates packet.
A registered voter offering to vote at any election, before being permitted to vote, shall be identified to a judge, who is using the polls books, by the voter announcing the voter's name and address and giving any change of address in the presence of the judges on a change of address form by the voter.
A person who is not registered as a qualified voter of the City shall not be entitled to vote or to receive a ballot. A voter shall not be rejected because of an error in the spelling of the voter's name, because of the omission or incorrect addition of one or more initials of the voter's middle name or names, or because the voter gives the initials of one or more of the voter's given name or names, instead of the voter's full name, or one or more of the voter's given name or names, instead of the initial or initials thereof, or because of an error in the number of the voter's residence on the voter register, provided that a majority of the judges are satisfied that the person offering to vote is the identical person who is registered, and that the voter intended to register his true name and residence.
A. 
Names of candidates and description of Charter amendments, etc. The Board shall provide ballots for every City election which shall contain:
(1) 
The name of every candidate, each in the same style and size of type, who has filed under the provisions of the Charter.
(2) 
A description of every Charter amendment or other question which is to be submitted to the vote of the people.
B. 
Sample ballots. Not less than 14 days before any election the form and arrangement of the ballots to be used in the election, showing the offices, names of candidates, Charter amendments and questions thereon, shall be prepared by the Board and made available for inspection by any candidate whose name shall appear thereon or the official representative of any campaign committee having a Charter amendment, principle or proposition on the ballot.
C. 
Correction of errors. If a mistake on the ballot is discovered, it shall be the duty of the Board to correct the same without delay. If the Board shall decline or refuse to make the correction an appeal may be filed with the City Manager. If the City Manager fails or refuses to correct the error then upon the sworn petition of any qualified voter who would have the right to vote for a candidate at the approaching election, the Circuit Court for Prince George's County may, by order, require the Board to correct the error or to show cause why such error should not be corrected.
D. 
List of candidates to be furnished on demand. A correct list of the names of the candidates for the designated offices shall be furnished on demand by the Board to any registered voter.
E. 
Color and type. The ballots shall be printed in plain clear type in black ink, upon clear white materials, with a minimum twelve-point font and arrangement as to fit the construction of the machine.
A. 
Alphabetical arrangement.
(1) 
The names of candidates for every office shall be arranged alphabetically on the ballots exactly as their name appears on the certification of nomination according to their surnames, under the designation of the office.
(2) 
The use of nicknames, titles, degrees or other professional designations on the ballot is absolutely prohibited.
B. 
Instructions as to number of candidates to vote for. Above the group of names of the candidates for each office, and upon a separate line immediately underneath the designation of the office, there shall be printed in bold, plain clear type with a minimum twelve-point font, an appropriate direction or instruction to the voter informing the voter of the number of persons for whom the voter may lawfully vote for the particular office mentioned immediately above each such direction, as: "Vote for One," "Vote for Two" or "Vote for Six," as the case may be.
A. 
Condensed statement and descriptive title. The ballots shall contain a condensed statement in understandable language of every Charter amendment or other question to be submitted to the vote of the people at any election. It shall be sufficient to print the legislative title or a brief summary of the contents or purpose of the proposed amendment or referendum, unless the act proposing the Charter amendment or other question specifically provides the title to be used. The City Attorney shall prepare and certify the form in which a Charter amendment or question shall appear and each amendment or question shall be captioned with a descriptive title in boldface type. A Charter amendment, or any question to be submitted to the popular vote, shall be printed on the ballots following the names of the candidates for office, and in the absence of some other provisions shall be accompanied by the words "For" and "Against." In the event the title of the ordinance or resolution, as the case may be, is 100 words or less, the title shall be sufficient. In the event the title exceeds 100 words, a summary of the title containing not in excess of 100 words shall be prepared and certified to the Board.
B. 
Order. The Board, in the preparation of ballots, shall follow the order designated by the City Attorney and shall always place the proposed Charter amendments and the other referenda, if any, in numerical order as indicated.
A. 
Printing. The Board shall cause to be printed two or more copies of a specimen ballot which shall be provided to each voting location.
B. 
Posting at polling places. On the morning of the election the Board shall cause to be conspicuously posted in each polling place the specimen ballots, and the specimen ballots shall be conspicuously displayed in the polling room and on the outside of the building wherein the voting shall take place.
A. 
Ground for challenge. No person's right to vote shall be challenged at the poll on any ground but identity. An individual whose right to vote may be challenged at the polls may establish the individual's identity by presenting any of the following forms of identification:
(1) 
The individual's voter registration card;
(2) 
The individual's social security card;
(3) 
The individual's valid Maryland driver's license;
(4) 
Any identification card issued to the individual by a political subdivision of the state, the state, the federal government, or any unit of political subdivision of the state, the state or the federal government;
(5) 
Any employee identification card of the individual that contains a photograph of the individual and is issued by the employer of the individual in the ordinary course of the employer's business; or
(6) 
A copy of a current bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and current address of the individual.
If an individual establishes the individual's identity as set forth above, an election judge shall authorize the individual to vote a regular ballot.
B. 
Procedure. When the right of any person to vote is challenged, the challenge shall be made before the individual is issued a ballot and its validity determined before the challenged voter enters the voting booth to cast the voter's ballot. The person challenging a person's right to vote shall be put under oath by a judge and state the person's reason for the challenge, and one of the judges shall administer to the challenged voter an oath to make true answers to questions. The judges shall question the challenged voter touching the cause of the challenge, and if a majority of the judges, after the questioning is concluded, is of the opinion that the challenged voter is the person so registered, the challenged voter's vote shall be received accordingly. Unless a majority of the judges is of the opinion that the challenged voter is entitled to vote, the challenged voter's vote shall not be received, and the word "Rejected" shall be written on the challenged voter's voting authority certificate or card.
The Board may provide for the use of voting equipment in all City elections in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the City Charter and such rules and regulations as the Board may deem advisable or necessary.
A. 
Time for petition for recount. No later than 4:00 p.m. EST of the second business day after the day of any election, any candidate for municipal elective office who has been defeated on the face of the returns by a margin of less than 5% may petition the Board for an appeal from and review of the action and decision of the judges in counting the ballots and for a recount of the ballots cast in any or all of the districts in which the petitioner was a candidate.
B. 
Affidavit. The petition shall be filed with an affidavit or affidavits, made from personal knowledge by candidates, watchers, challengers or other persons, setting forth acts of fraud, mistake, error or irregularity in making the count or returns by the judges, or setting forth that some of the returns and tally sheets of the election show on their faces ambiguity, error, fraud, or mistake or miscalculation by the judges.
C. 
Procedure for recount.
(1) 
The Board, after receiving the petition, shall review the votes recorded by all means, and, if required to resolve the issues raised by the petition, the Board shall proceed without answer, pleading or technicality and without requiring any evidence to be taken or proof submitted, to recount the ballots in those districts named in the petition.
(2) 
The review and recount of ballots shall be conducted with all possible expedition and in preference to all other business under such procedure as the Board shall prescribe.
(3) 
The recount shall be conducted in the presence of the candidates or their representatives and of the press and the general public.
(4) 
The petitioner shall pay the cost of the recount unless the result of the election is changed, in which case the costs shall be borne by the City.
A. 
Any qualified voter of the City may vote as an absentee voter in any general or special election.
B. 
The application for an absentee voting ballot must be made in writing and signed by the applicant or, if the applicant is unable to sign, shall bear the mark of the applicant and the signature of two witnesses. The application must be submitted to the Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day that is the seventh day prior to the election. If the seventh day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the application shall be due no later than 5:00 p.m. the next business day. It may be submitted electronically, by mail or delivered in person by the voter or the applicant's duly authorized agent. A voter may designate a duly authorized agent by any signed writing to that effect or if the applicant cannot sign then the writing shall bear the applicant's mark and the signature of two witnesses. Whenever the Board has received an application for an absentee voting ballot it shall issue to the applicant an absentee voting ballot.
C. 
When the application is received by mail or electronically, the Board shall issue the absentee voting ballot by return mail; when the application is presented in person by the voter or duly authorized agent, the Board shall issue the absentee voting ballot to the voter or duly authorized agent at the time of application.
D. 
Persons receiving absentee ballots shall also be furnished an official self-addressed return envelope for use in returning the marked ballots. Only those ballots returned in an official return envelope shall be counted and considered properly cast.
E. 
All absentee voting ballots must be received by the time of the close of the polls on election day. The ballots are to remain in the unopened official return envelope in which they are received and be placed in any 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.
F. 
The Board shall open all absentee ballots only after all the polling places have opened on election day. Absentee ballots are thereafter to be opened, approved as to form, and totaled. 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.
G. 
Absentee ballots are to be preserved in the same manner as prescribed for any other election ballots in Section 34 of the City Charter.
Registered voters may file a petition with the City Clerk for the recall of any Councilmember or mayor with six or more months remaining in his or her term. Upon receiving a petition for recall, the City Clerk shall verify that at least 25% of the registered voters, within the district of the affected Councilmember or within the City for Councilmembers elected at large or the mayor, have signed the petition. Registered voters are those persons qualified to vote in a general City election as certified by the Board of Elections. Once the signatures have been verified and the petition is determined to meet all applicable requirements, the special recall election shall be scheduled. The special recall election shall take place not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days of the date of certification of the petition.
All instructions or forms required under any section or subsection of this chapter shall be prepared for the Board by the City Clerk. Except for the submission of certification of nomination and accompanying documents, when submitting forms and applications pursuant to this chapter, electronic forms and applications may be completed online and submitted electronically.
Unless an interpretation to the contrary is clearly intended from the context in which it appears, the Election Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended, may be a guide to the Board of Elections in interpreting the provisions of this chapter. This chapter shall always be interpreted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the City Charter.
A. 
Unless otherwise specified by this chapter or the City Charter, and except as set forth in Subsection B of this section, any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a municipal infraction pursuant to § 1-6 of this Code.
B. 
Any person who attempts to fraudulently influence the outcome of any election conducted under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both fine and imprisonment. The following actions shall be deemed actions designed to fraudulently influence the outcome of an election under this subsection:
(1) 
Offering a bribe.
(2) 
Accepting or soliciting a bribe.
(3) 
Acting on a bribe.
(4) 
Making a political contribution under a false name.
(5) 
Coercing a City employee to support any candidate for election or to contribute any money or other thing of value to the candidate or the candidate's campaign.
C. 
Any person who has been adjudicated guilty or who has paid a fine prior to trial with respect to two cumulative municipal infractions of this chapter over the course of one campaign and who commits a third violation of § 6-75 of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
D. 
Any person who violates the provisions of § 6-75 of this chapter shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and shall be subject to a fine of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense and $500 for each offense thereafter.
E. 
Any elected official who is a candidate who is found guilty of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this chapter shall immediately cease to hold such office, and shall be disqualified as a candidate pursuant to City Charter, Second 4, Qualifications of Councilmembers, or Section 15, Qualifications.
F. 
The City may institute injunctive, mandamus or any other appropriate action or proceedings at law or equity for the enforcement of this chapter or to correct violations of this chapter. Any court of competent jurisdiction shall have the right to issue restraining orders, injunctions, mandamus, or any other appropriate form of relief or remedy.
G. 
For purposes of the issuance of municipal infraction citations under this chapter, the City Clerk shall be designated as the code enforcement officer.
H. 
The Board of Elections is authorized to direct corrective action for violations deemed by the Board to be either inadvertent or minimal and having no effect on the election campaign.