Qualifications for Candidates for Office

From the MD Board of Elections website
Office Sought Age U.S. Citizen State Citizen/ Resident District Resident Term of Office Additional Qualifications
President 35 Natural born Citizen 14 years a resident within the United States   4 years from January 20th  
Vice President 35 Natural born Citizen 14 years a resident within the United States   4 years from January 20th  
U.S. Senate 30 9 years Inhabitant of the State at the time of the election   6 years from January 3rd  
U.S. Congress 25 7 years Inhabitant of the State at the time of the election   2 years from January 3rd  

Office Sought Age State Citizen/ Resident District Resident Term of Office Additional Qualifications
Governor 30 5 years   4 years from 3rd Wed. in January  
Lt. Governor 30 5 years   4 years from 3rd Wed. in January  
Comptroller       4 years from 3rd Wed. in January  
Attorney General   10 years   4 years Practice law in MD for 10 years
State Senate 25 1 year 6 months 4 years from 2nd Wed. in January  
House of Delegates 21 1 year 6 months 4 years from 2nd Wed. in January  
Circuit Court Judge 30 5 years 6 months 15 years or until the age of 70 Member - Maryland Bar

Montgomery County Government Positions

Specific Requirements for County Executive:

  • Residency for one year prior to the election.
  • Minimum age of 30 years.
  • Qualified voter of Montgomery County.
  • Cannot hold any other office of profit.
  • Cannot participate in any private occupation for compensation during their term.

 

Specific Requirements for County Council:

  • Must reside in the Council District they seek to represent. 

 

  • General requirements of being a qualified voter: US citizen, registered to vote in Montgomery County, at least 18 years old. Cannot register to vote in MD if you have been convicted of buying or selling votes; under guardianship for mental disability and found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote; or are currently serving a sentence of imprisonment for a felony conviction. 

 

  • Candidates must file a financial disclosure statement with the State Ethics Commission and the County Council.

 

  • Candidates may be subject to a criminal background check and fingerprinting.

 

  • No member of the Council shall hold any other office of profit in state, county or municipal government. No member of the Council shall be eligible for appointment during the member’s term of office to any other office or position carrying compensation created by or under this Charter, except to County Executive in the event of a vacancy.