EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0925*
SENATE BILL 925
G1 2lr3155
By: Senator Patterson
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Rules
Re–referred to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs, February 25, 2022
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 8, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Prince George’s County – Special Elections Conducted by Mail – Voting Centers 2
FOR the purpose of altering requirements for voting centers used in a special election 3
conducted by mail in Prince George’s County; and generally relating to special 4
elections in Prince George’s County. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Election Law 7
Section 9–501 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Election Law 12
Section 9–503 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Election Law 18
9–501. 19 2 SENATE BILL 925
(a) This subtitle applies only to a special election that is not held concurrently 1
with a regularly scheduled primary or general election. 2
(b) Voting by mail may be utilized in a special election in accordance with this 3
subtitle. 4
(c) A special election to fill a vacancy in the Office of Representative in Congress 5
shall be conducted by mail if the Governor’s proclamation issued under § 8–710 of this 6
article directs that the election be conducted by mail. 7
(d) (1) In this subsection, “local special election” means a special election to: 8
(i) fill a vacancy in the offices of county council member, chief 9
executive officer, or county executive of a charter county if the charter of that county 10
provides for special elections; 11
(ii) fill a vacancy in the board of county commissioners of a code 12
home rule county if a local law enacted by that county provides for special elections; 13
(iii) fill a vacancy in the board of county commissioners of a 14
commission county if a law provides for special elections; 15
(iv) fill a vacancy in a local board of education if State law provides 16
for special elections; 17
(v) elect members of a charter board or submit a proposed charter to 18
the voters for adoption or rejection in accordance with Article XI–A, § 1A of the Maryland 19
Constitution; or 20
(vi) submit a local law enacted by a code home rule county to the 21
voters for adoption or rejection in accordance with § 9–313 of the Local Government Article. 22
(2) A local special election shall be conducted by mail if the resolution of 23
the county council or board of county commissioners establishing the date of the special 24
election directs that the election be conducted by mail. 25
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle: 26
(1) provisions of this article relating to absentee voting apply to voting by 27
mail; and 28
(2) all pertinent State or local laws relating to the conduct of a special 29
election apply to a special election conducted under this subtitle. 30
SENATE BILL 925 3
(f) Provisions of this article relating to the conduct of elections apply to a special 1
election conducted under this subtitle, unless a law specifically relevant to a special election 2
applies. 3
9–503. 4
(a) Each local board shall establish at least one voting center for the use of any 5
eligible voter who chooses to cast a ballot in person in a special election in accordance with 6
this section. 7
(b) (1) A voting center shall be located at a local board office or another location 8
within the constituency where the special election is being held. 9
(2) In Montgomery County AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY: 10
(i) in a special election held in a single county council district, at 11
least one voting center shall be established in the county council district where the special 12
election is being held; and 13
(ii) in a countywide special election, at least one voting center shall 14
be established in each county council district. 15
(c) A voting center established under this section shall: 16
(1) provide access to a voting system that is accessible to voters with 17
disabilities in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal 18
Help America Vote Act; 19
(2) provide for provisional voting in accordance with Subtitle 4 of this title; 20
(3) satisfy the requirements of § 10–101 of this article; and 21
(4) (i) unless otherwise specified in the proclamation issued by the 22
Governor that directs that the special election be conducted by mail, and except as provided 23
in item (ii) of this item, be open for voting each day beginning 6 days before the day of a 24
special election through the day of a special election during the hours between: 25
1. 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 26
2. 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday; and 27
(ii) in Montgomery County AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, be 28
open for voting during the days and for the hours that the county council directs in the 29
resolution under § 9–501(d)(2) of this subtitle. 30
4 SENATE BILL 925
(d) If necessary to expedite the conduct of a special election and subject to the 1
approval of the State Board, a local board may establish a voting center under this section 2
during a period when a change in polling places is prohibited under § 2–303 of this article. 3
(e) The process for applying in person for an absentee ballot at the office of a local 4
board under § 9–305 of this title does not apply to a special election conducted by mail. 5
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any provision of this article that 6
applies to voting at a polling place on election day also applies to voting at a voting center 7
established under this section. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 9
1, 2022. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.