Rising Sun, Maryland ~ Board of Elections

Board of Elections

The Government of Rising Sun is made up of Town Residents that are nominated and elected to office by qualified Town Voters. Responsibility and oversight of this great American tradition is charged to the Board of Supervisors of Elections. This board shall consist of three (3) members who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Commissioners, on or before the first Monday of August every two years. The terms of the members shall run for two (2) years. Members of the Board of Supervisors of Elections shall be qualified voters of the Town and shall not hold or be candidates for any elective office, and shall not be Town employees or officials. The Board shall appoint one (1) of its members as Chairman.

The Board shall be in charge of the registration of voters, nominations and all Town elections, and shall keep the registration lists current by striking from the lists persons known to have died or to have moved out of Town.

Voter Registration

Qualifications for voting in Town elections are as follows:

(1) Must be a citizen of the United States; and

(2) Must be at least eighteen years of age; and

(3) a bona fide resident of the town for at least thirty days preceding any election at which he shall offer to vote;

or who, in the absence of such residency, shall own a fee simple interest in real estate within the town; and

(4) is registered in accordance with the provisions of this Charter.

Every qualified voter of the Town shall be entitled to vote at any and all Town Elections
Qualified persons may register to vote at Town Hall or may request that a registration form be mailed to them.
Voter registration books are open continuously during normal business hours, except that they shall be closed thirty (30) days prior to any Town election.
Registration shall be permanent and no person shall be entitled to vote in Town elections unless registered.
Qualified voters who are registered with the State Board of Elections are entitled to vote in all Town elections.
The Mayor and Commissioners are hereby authorized to adopt by ordinance any provisions necessary to establish and maintain a system of registration and to provide for registration when necessary.

If any person shall feel aggrieved by the action of the Board of Supervisors of Elections in refusing to register or in striking off the name of any person or by any other action, such person may appeal to the Mayor and Commissioners.

Any decision or action of the Mayor and Commissioners upon such appeal may be appealed to the Circuit Court within thirty (30) days of the decision or action by the Mayor and Commissioners.

Elected Town Officials

All legislative powers of the Town are vested in a Commission consisting of a Mayor and four (4) Commissioners who shall hold office for a term of two (2) years or until the succeeding Commission takes office.

Qualifications

The Mayor and four Commissioners, shall be citizens of the United States, at least twenty-five (25) years of age at the time of their election to office, qualified voters of the Town and residents of said Town for at least one year preceding the date of their election

Salary

The Mayor and each of the Commissioner shall receive a salary of $25 per meeting.

Nomination.

Any citizen of the town, being otherwise qualified as indicated herein, desiring to be a candidate for the office of Mayor or for the office of Commissioner, may by letter addressed to the Commissioners of the Town of Rising Sun express their intention to be a candidate for a specified office and request that their name be placed on the official ballot at the next election.
All written nominations or letters of intent must be in the hands of the secretary to the Commissioners by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the annual meeting; or
Any duly qualified citizen of the town may be nominated for either of the said offices from the floor at the annual town meeting to be held on the last Tuesday in May of each year.
Should a citizen holding the office of Commissioner decide to become a candidate for the office of Mayor, they must resign their position as Commissioner prior to becoming a candidate for Mayor.

Election Day

Elections shall be held each year on the 2nd Monday in June.