[HISTORY: Derived from 1988 Codified Ordinances of the Mayor and City Council. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Elections — See Charter Secs. 5 through 16.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
The City does not require separate voter registration and relies on the voter registration established by the Maryland Code, Election Law, § 3-403, provided however, eligible voters must live within the corporate boundaries of the City as set forth in the City Charter. The voter list and addresses are to be confirmed on an annual basis by the Board with assistance from City staff. Any person not maintaining a Havre de Grace address within corporate limits shall be stricken from the City voter list and notified by mail pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fraudulently register or attempt to register in the name of any other person living or dead, or under any fictitious name or cause himself to be registered or attempt to cause himself to be fraudulently registered, knowing that he has not the right to be registered, or by force, threat, menace, intimidation or other unlawful means prevent, hinder or endeavor to prevent any person having a lawful right to register from fully exercising such right, or compel, or endeavor to compel, by such means, any officer of registration to admit to registration of any person not legally entitled thereto, or interfere with any officer of registration in the discharge of his duties or make any assault or commit any assault and battery or incite or create a riot or any breach of the peace at or near to any place of registration.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 61-4, Responsibility for condition of registry of voters, was repealed 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
The registry of voters is maintained by the County in accordance with the Maryland Code, Election Law, § 3-403. The City does not maintain a separate voter registry but the Board may verify addresses as provided under § 61-1 and notify the County Board of Elections of same.
[Amended 3-5-2018 by Ord. No. 998; 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
A notice of candidacy and required disclosure forms and filing fee shall be submitted to the Director of Administration or his designee not later than 5:00 PM on the last day of filing for candidacy, and the person filing for office shall swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the information supplied is true and correct. A nonrefundable filing fee of $50 for a City Council seat and $100 for Mayor shall be paid to the Director of Administration at the time of filing a notice of candidacy.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
The method of casting and marking ballots, the powers and duties of the voters in relation thereof and the rendering of assistance to physically disabled voters shall be as determined by the City's Board of Election Supervisors in consultation with the City staff and the City Attorney. Voting shall take place within the corporate boundaries of the City.
The voting machines utilized by the Board of Election Supervisors in the conduct of City elections shall meet all of the requirements of state law.
Each candidate for office shall be entitled to designate in writing one challenger who shall be a registered voter of the City and who shall be permitted to be present at the polling place from the time the polls are opened until the polls have been closed, the votes have been counted and the results ascertained. Each candidate may designate substitute challengers, but only one such challenger will be permitted within the polling place at any one time. No such challenger shall inquire of any voter as to what candidate or candidates said voter may intend to vote for, or may have voted for, or to confer or converse in the polling place with any voter or to aid or assist said voter in the preparation of his ballot.
It shall be unlawful to falsely impersonate any voter and vote or attempt or offer to vote in or upon the name of such voter; to vote or attempt to vote in or upon the name of any other person whether living or dead, or in or upon any false assumed or fictitious name, or in or upon any name not his own; to knowingly, willfully or fraudulently vote more than once for any candidate for the same office, except as authorized by law; to vote or attempt or offer to vote without being registered therein as a legal voter; to vote more than once, or having once voted, vote, or attempt or offer to vote again; to knowingly, willfully or fraudulently do any unlawful act to secure for himself or for any other person a right or opportunity to vote; to, by force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery or reward, or offer or promise thereof, or otherwise unlawfully, either directly or indirectly, influence or attempt to influence any voter in giving his vote; to prevent or hinder, or attempt to prevent or hinder, any qualified voter from freely exercising the right of suffrage, or by any such means induce or attempt to induce any voter to exercise any such right; to compel or induce or attempt to compel or induce any judge of election, or other officer of election, to receive the vote of any person not legally qualified or entitled to vote at the said election; to knowingly, willfully or fraudulently interfere with, delay or hinder in any manner any judge of election, poll clerk or other officer of election in the discharge of his duties; to, by any such means, or other unlawful means; to knowingly, willfully or fraudulently counsel, advise, induce or attempt to induce any judge of election, poll clerk or other officer of election whose duty it is to ascertain, proclaim, announce or declare the result of any such election; to give or to make any false certificate, document, report or other false evidence in relation thereto, to refuse or neglect to comply with his duty; to violate any law regulating the same; to receive the vote of any person not entitled to vote, or to refuse to receive the vote of any person entitled to vote; to aid, counsel, advise, procure or assist any voter, person or judge of election or other officer of election to do any unlawful act or to omit to do any act by law directed to be done.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
In canvassing votes cast, the judges shall conform to the procedure provided by law in the instance of state and county elections. Upon the completion of the canvass, the judges shall make out and sign in duplicate two original statements of return of the result of the canvass on forms provided by the Board of Election Supervisors, which forms shall immediately be placed in sealed envelopes. The judges, no later than 10:00 a.m. on the morning following the election day, shall deliver one original of such statement of return to the President of the Board of Election Supervisors and deliver the other original statement of return to the Director of Administration, together with all tally sheets and other records of the election for safekeeping by the Director of Administration. The Director of Administration shall prepare a chain of custody form acknowledging date and time of receipt of the statement of return and election records.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
The Board of Election Supervisors shall meet at the City Council Chamber prior to 5:00 PM on the day following the day of election. The Director of Administration shall provide to the Board of Election Supervisors any records held for safekeeping and the Board of Election Supervisors shall sign the chain of custody form. The Board shall proceed to canvass the number of votes cast at said election, and shall declare and proclaim the result of said election; and they shall prepare and file with the Director of Administration, addressed to the Mayor and City Council, a written statement signed by them or a majority of them of the result of said election. The said Board of Election Supervisors shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine, under such rules and regulations as the Mayor and City Council may by ordinance prescribe, all contested City elections, and any party to such contest may, within 10 days after such determination by said Board, appeal to the Circuit Court for Harford County.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
A. 
The Board of Election Supervisors shall, at least four days prior to the day of election, cause an accurate sample copy of the official paper ballot to be posted in four or more public places in the City, and at least one of said sample copies shall be placed on the exterior of the building in which the election is to be held. City staff is to assist the Board of Election Supervisors with posting a copy of the sample ballot on the City website.
B. 
Ballots for absentee voting shall be provided for those persons meeting the criteria set forth in the state law governing state and county elections. The procedures for processing applications, casting ballots and canvassing of ballots shall conform to the standards set forth in state law for state and county elections except as may be modified by the Mayor and City Council. Absentee ballots and the related forms may be reproduced by photocopying or offset printing as the Board of Election Supervisors may determine appropriate.
Ballots shall be printed and in the possession of the Board of Election Supervisors at least five days before election day, and a correct list of the names of the candidates thereon with the designation of the office for which the persons are candidates shall be furnished by said Board of Election Supervisors to any qualified voter on demand. It shall be the duty of the said Board of Election Supervisors to correct immediately any mistakes that may be discovered in said ballot without delay.
If the voters of the City of Havre de Grace fail to elect a Mayor or City Councilman because two or more candidates receive equal numbers of votes, a new election shall be ordered by the Board of Election Supervisors.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
In any case where a new election is ordered by the Board of Election Supervisors, the following procedures shall be followed:
A. 
The new election shall be scheduled 14 days after the election which resulted in a tie.
B. 
No new voter registrations will be recognized if application for such new voter registration is dated after the date of the original election.
C. 
Only the names of those candidates whose vote count resulted in a tie, thereby causing a failure to elect, shall appear on the ballot.
Any new election ordered pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall be conducted in the same manner as regularly scheduled elections of the City of Havre de Grace, except to the extent that provisions relating to regular elections are inconsistent herewith.
[Amended 11-17-2025 by Ord. No. 1211]
Any person convicted of committing any unlawful act as provided in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. If any unlawful act is continuing, then each day during which such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense. In addition to any criminal penalty which may be imposed, all the provisions of this chapter may be enforced by a petition for injunction filed on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace.