Maryland Statutes § 10-301.1 Early voting and early voting centers
Statute Text
Effective Until 1/1/2025
(a)
Except as provided under Title 9, Subtitle 3 of this article, during any regularly scheduled primary or general election a voter may vote:
(1)
in the voter's assigned precinct on election day; or
(2)
at an early voting center in the voter's county of residence on any early voting day in accordance with this section.
(b)
(1)
Each county shall have at least one early voting center established in the county as prescribed in this subsection.
(2)
A county with fewer than 50,000 registered voters shall have one early voting center established in the county.
(3)
A county with at least 50,000 registered voters but fewer than 100,000 registered voters shall have two early voting centers established in the county.
(4)
A county with at least 100,000 registered voters but fewer than 200,000 registered voters shall have three early voting centers established in the county.
(5)
A county with at least 200,000 registered voters but fewer than 300,000 registered voters shall have five early voting centers established in the county.
(6)
A county with at least 300,000 registered voters but fewer than 400,000 registered voters shall have seven early voting centers established in the county.
(7)
A county with at least 400,000 registered voters but fewer than 500,000 registered voters shall have nine early voting centers established in the county.
(8)
A county with at least 500,000 registered voters but fewer than 600,000 registered voters shall have 11 early voting centers established in the county.
(9)
A county with at least 600,000 registered voters shall have 13 early voting centers established in the county.
(10)
In addition to the early voting centers required in this subsection, each county may establish one additional early voting center if:
(i)
first, the local board and the governing body of the county agree to establish an additional early voting center; and
(ii)
then, the State Board approves the establishment of the additional early voting center.
(c)
(1)
No later than 6 months before a primary election, the local board in each county shall, subject to the approval of the State Board, designate each early voting center in that county.
(2)
A local board shall take into account the following factors when determining the location of an early voting center:
(i)
accessibility of the early voting center to historically disenfranchised communities, including cultural groups, ethnic groups, and minority groups;
(ii)
proximity of the early voting center to dense concentrations of voters;
(iii)
accessibility of the early voting center by public transportation;
(iv)
ensuring equitable distribution of early voting centers throughout the county; and
(v)
maximizing voter participation, including through the use of community centers and public gathering places as locations for early voting centers.
(d)
Each early voting center shall be open for voting as follows:
(1)
beginning the second Thursday before a primary or general election through the Thursday before the election; and
(2)
during the hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. each early voting day.
(e)
Each early voting center shall satisfy the requirements of §
10-101
of this title.
(f)
Beginning 30 days prior to each early voting period the State Board and each local board shall undertake steps to inform the public about early voting and the location of early voting centers in each county, including:
(1)
a series of public service media announcements;
(2)
mailings to all registered voters in each county; and
(3)
other measures as appropriate.
(g)
Except as expressly provided in this section, any provision of this article that applies to voting on election day also applies to early voting.
(h)
The State Board shall adopt regulations and guidelines in accordance with the requirements of this section for the conduct of early voting.
History
Amended by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 660 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2021 .
Amended by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 659 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2021 .
Amended by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 43 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2021 .
Amended by 2019 Md. Laws, Ch. 539 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2019 .
Amended by 2016 Md. Laws, Ch. 288 , Sec. 1 , eff. 1/1/2017 .
Amended by 2016 Md. Laws, Ch. 7 , Sec. 1 , eff. 3/14/2016 .
Amended by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 158 , Sec. 3 , eff. 7/1/2013 .
Amended by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 157 , Sec. 3 , eff. 7/1/2013 .
Effective Starting 1/1/2025
(a)
Except as provided under Title 9, Subtitle 3 of this article, during any regularly scheduled primary or general election a voter may vote:
(1)
in the voter's assigned precinct on election day; or
(2)
at an early voting center in the voter's county of residence on any early voting day in accordance with this section.
(b)
(1)
Each county shall have at least one early voting center established in the county as prescribed in this subsection.
(2)
A county with fewer than 50,000 registered voters shall have one early voting center established in the county.
(3)
A county with at least 50,000 registered voters but fewer than 100,000 registered voters shall have two early voting centers established in the county.
(4)
A county with at least 100,000 registered voters but fewer than 200,000 registered voters shall have three early voting centers established in the county.
(5)
A county with at least 200,000 registered voters but fewer than 300,000 registered voters shall have five early voting centers established in the county.
(6)
A county with at least 300,000 registered voters but fewer than 400,000 registered voters shall have seven early voting centers established in the county.
(7)
A county with at least 400,000 registered voters but fewer than 500,000 registered voters shall have nine early voting centers established in the county.
(8)
A county with at least 500,000 registered voters but fewer than 600,000 registered voters shall have 11 early voting centers established in the county.
(9)
A county with at least 600,000 registered voters shall have 13 early voting centers established in the county.
(10)
In addition to the early voting centers required in this subsection, each county may establish one additional early voting center if:
(i)
first, the local board and the governing body of the county agree to establish an additional early voting center; and
(ii)
then, the State Board approves the establishment of the additional early voting center.
(c)
(1)
No later than 6 months before a primary election, the local board in each county shall, subject to the approval of the State Board, designate each early voting center in that county.
(2)
A local board shall take into account the following factors when determining the location of an early voting center:
(i)
accessibility of the early voting center to historically disenfranchised communities, including cultural groups, ethnic groups, and minority groups;
(ii)
proximity of the early voting center to dense concentrations of voters;
(iii)
accessibility of the early voting center by public transportation;
(iv)
ensuring equitable distribution of early voting centers throughout the county; and
(v)
maximizing voter participation, including through the use of community centers and public gathering places as locations for early voting centers.
(d)
Each early voting center shall be open for voting as follows:
(1)
beginning the second Thursday before a primary or general election through the Thursday before the election; and
(2)
during the hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. each early voting day.
(e)
(1)
Each early voting center shall satisfy the requirements of §
10-101
of this title.
(2)
[The]
Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the public official responsible for the use of a public building requested by a local board for an early voting center shall make the public building available to the local board in accordance with §
10-101
(a)(3)
of this title.
(3)
(i)
[Each local Board]
The State Board shall adopt regulations that establish an appeals process for public officials responsible for public buildings requested for use under paragraph (2) of this subsection to contest the availability of the public building during the period of time the building would be used as an early voting center.
(ii)
[An]
The appeals process established under this paragraph shall include:
[1.]
[require a public official to file an appeal within]
[14]
[days after receiving notice from the local board of the]
[request to make the public building available as an early voting center]
[;]
[2.]
[allow the public official an opportunity to be heard publicly before the local board]
[;]
[and]
[3.]
[conclude the appeals process at least]
[8]
[months before a local board is required to submit the locations of its early voting centers to the State Board]
[.]
1.
an initial appeal to the local board that selected the public building for use as an early voting center;
2.
an opportunity for a public official to be heard publicly at a meeting of the local board before the local board makes a decision on the appeal;
3.
an appeal by a public official of an adverse decision of the local board to the State Board;
4.
an opportunity for a public official to be heard publicly at a meeting of the State Board before the State Board makes a final decision on the appeal; and
5.
a final decision at least 8 months before the primary election for which the local board seeks to use the public building as an early voting center.
(iii)
The decision of the State Board regarding an appeal under this paragraph is final.
(f)
Beginning 30 days prior to each early voting period the State Board and each local board shall undertake steps to inform the public about early voting and the location of early voting centers in each county, including:
(1)
a series of public service media announcements;
(2)
mailings to all registered voters in each county; and
(3)
other measures as appropriate.
(g)
Except as expressly provided in this section, any provision of this article that applies to voting on election day also applies to early voting.
(h)
The State Board shall adopt regulations and guidelines in accordance with the requirements of this section for the conduct of early voting.
History
Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 430 , Sec. 1 , eff. 1/1/2025 .
Amended by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 660 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2021 .
Amended by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 659 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2021 .
Amended by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 43 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2021 .
Amended by 2019 Md. Laws, Ch. 539 , Sec. 1 , eff. 10/1/2019 .
Amended by 2016 Md. Laws, Ch. 288 , Sec. 1 , eff. 1/1/2017 .
Amended by 2016 Md. Laws, Ch. 7 , Sec. 1 , eff. 3/14/2016 .
Amended by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 158 , Sec. 3 , eff. 7/1/2013 .
Amended by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 157 , Sec. 3 , eff. 7/1/2013 .
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