Maryland Notaries Guide to Circuit Court Clerk Candidates | 2026 Election

Maryland Notaries in Action | 2026 General Election Guide

Candidate information checked October 5, 2026.

Election season brings plenty of attention to the races at the top of the ballot. For Maryland notaries, another office deserves a closer look: Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Many notaries first encounter this office when taking their oath. Others return for authentication of a notary’s signature, certified court documents, or matters involving recorded property documents. The people elected to lead these offices oversee services that affect notaries, homeowners, businesses, and the public.

Before voting, take a few minutes to understand the office, find the candidates in your jurisdiction, and learn what each proposes to do.

Why Circuit Court Clerk Offices Matter to Notaries

The clerk’s office administers the oath of office after a notary application has been approved. Maryland notaries must take the oath each time they receive a new commission, including upon renewal. The Secretary of State’s notary FAQ explains this process.

The office also provides services that may arise in notarial and document-support work:

• Notary authentication: A circuit court clerk can authenticate the signature of a notary commissioned in that jurisdiction. Check the appropriate office’s requirements before submitting documents. This is a separate step from obtaining an apostille or state authentication from the Secretary of State. See the Cecil County clerk’s explanation for an example.

• Land records: Every Maryland county and Baltimore City has a Land Records Department within its circuit court clerk’s office. These departments accept qualifying documents for recording and maintain property records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and certain powers of attorney.

• Access to records: Recorded deeds can be viewed through MDLandRec. Readers can also consult their clerk’s office about access to court records and certified copies.

The Maryland Judiciary’s Land Records guide explains what these departments do. Recording staff have defined responsibilities; they do not provide legal advice, prepare your documents, or determine whether a document accomplishes your legal goals.

Swearing in notaries and regulating notaries are different responsibilities

The clerk’s office administers the oath, but notary commission discipline is handled through the Office of the Secretary of State on behalf of the governor. The Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew, suspend, revoke, or impose conditions on a commission under the applicable law.

Understanding which office handles which responsibility helps notaries direct questions and concerns to the appropriate place. See the Secretary of State’s notary FAQ, including its explanation of removal from office.

Maryland Secretary of State Is Appointed

Maryland voters elect the governor, but they do not elect the Secretary of State. The governor appoints the Secretary of State with the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate.

This distinction matters to notaries and apostille service providers because the Secretary of State’s office handles notary administration and document certification services. Readers can learn more from the Maryland State Archives’ overview and Article II, Section 22 of the Maryland Constitution.

Start with your own sample ballot

A statewide candidate list can be overwhelming. Start with the races you will actually vote in.

Use the Maryland State Board of Elections’ Voter Lookup. It allows registered voters to review their registration, find voting districts and polling information, identify their local election board, and view their sample ballot when available.

Enter your information directly on the official website. Find the contest labeled Clerk of the Circuit Court, then research the candidates for your county or Baltimore City.

Where to Find Election and Candidate Information

Use election-board sources to confirm who is running. Use office websites to understand the job. Use campaign materials, interviews, voter guides, and reliable reporting to learn about the people seeking it.

Questions to consider when researching candidates

Apply the same questions to every candidate:

• What experience do they bring in court administration, records management, customer service, or supervising staff?

• How do they propose to improve public access, response times, and clear filing instructions?

• What do they say about staff training, document handling, privacy, and accountability?

• How would they address recording errors or reports of suspicious documents within the office’s legal authority?

• Do their proposals reflect the clerk’s actual responsibilities?

• Are their statements supported by specific experience, examples, or a practical plan?

A familiar name or party label does not tell you everything about a candidate. Read beyond the campaign slogan, consider reliable evidence in context, and make your own decision.

Clerk candidates across Maryland

The directory below covers active candidates in the official general-election listing as checked on October 5. D means Democratic; R means Republican. Names link to the website or Facebook URL supplied in the filing when available; otherwise they link to the official candidate listing.

Link key: W = website supplied in filing; F = Facebook URL supplied in filing; O = official listing. An O does not mean the candidate has no campaign website. It means no usable website or full Facebook URL was supplied in the filing reviewed. Campaign destinations have not all been independently checked for current activity.

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections—local general-election candidates. Consult the live listing for changes, including subsequent write-in filings. Declined candidates are excluded.

Understand the Write In Option

In a Maryland general election, a write-in option allows voters to vote for a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot. Filed write-in candidates appear within the official candidate lists, rather than in a separate write-in section on the main election page.

Use these direct links:

• Local candidates, including filed write-in candidates—for offices such as county executive and Clerk of the Circuit Court.

• State candidates, including filed write-in candidates—for governor, congressional, and state legislative races.

On a computer, press Ctrl + F (or Command + F on a Mac) and search for Write-In. On a phone, use the browser’s Find in pageoption. Check the office heading, jurisdiction, and candidate’s status as well as the filing method. Look for Active and Filed: Write-In; an older withdrawn or unsuccessful filing is not the same as an active write-in filing.

For example, the local list reviewed October 5 includes Moisette Tonya Sweat under Prince George’s County Executive, with Status: Active and Filed: Write-In - 09/01/2026. It also retains a separate unsuccessful petition entry for the same person, illustrating why the filing method and status matter. This example explains how to read the list and does not constitute an endorsement.

Check the live lists again as the filing deadline approaches; additional write-in candidates may file.

The State Board of Elections lists October 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. as the final filing deadline for write-in candidacies. Itscandidacy page explains the filing requirements, including circumstances that can trigger an earlier filing obligation.

On a paper ballot, use a black pen, fill in the oval beside the write-in line, and write the candidate’s first and last name on that line. Follow the ballot’s limit on how many candidates you may select for the contest. See the Board’s official write-in instructions.

Make time for the offices that affect your work

Maryland’s general election is November 3, 2026. Early voting runs October 22–29, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. See the official 2026 election pagefor voting details.

Before casting your ballot, open your sample ballot, identify the clerk candidates in your jurisdiction, and learn about their qualifications and priorities. Share these resources with another notary who may not know how this office connects to their work.

Maryland Notaries in Action provides this guide for voter education. Candidate inclusion and links do not constitute an endorsement.