The intent was to find a means of electing a president and vice-president by popular vote but, at the same time, provide for geographical representation. Having been in operation for eleven years at the time of the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787, the delegates to those deliberations had an impressive structure to study and use as a model. No later than the day before the general election, the presiding officers of the state convention of each political party recognized by the State Board of Elections must certify the names of ten people to become electors should the party's candidate win a plurality of votes in Maryland. Candidates for president and vice-president who receives a plurality of the votes cast in Maryland receive all of the electoral votes. With that one exception, no specific rules define the method of choosing electors.
Selection is left up to the political parties which name their electors at state conventions.
Some political parties choose one person residing in each of the eight congressional districts as an elector, and two at large. State law requires the Maryland electors to meet at the State House in Annapolis. The certificate also names all other candidates for elector and the number of votes each received. The certificate is signed by the Governor and carries the State seal. The Governor then makes seven original certificates of ascertainment.