Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1088 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1088
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1088
8	8	G1, E5 4lr3135
9	9	CF SB 605
10	10	By: Delegate Feldmark
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2024
12	12	Assigned to: Ways and Means
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Election Law – Automatic Voter Registration – Alterations 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of altering automatic voter registration procedures at the Motor Vehicle 3
21	21	Administration and the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; establishing 4
22	22	requirements regarding the transmission of automatic voter registration 5
23	23	information by the Administration and the Exchange, the processing of the voter 6
24	24	registration information by the State Board of Elections, and the sending of notices 7
25	25	by the State Board and the Exchange; authorizing the State Board to implement 8
26	26	certain automatic voter registration procedures at certain agencies with the consent 9
27	27	of the agencies; providing that certain automatic voter registration procedures do not 10
28	28	apply to participants in certain confidentiality programs; and generally relating to 11
29	29	automatic voter registration. 12
30	30
31	31	BY renumbering 13
32	32	Article – Election Law 14
33	33	Section 3–203(c) through (j) 15
34	34	to be Section 3–203(d) through (k), respectively 16
35	35	Annotated Code of Maryland 17
36	36	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
37	37
38	38	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 19
39	39	Article – Election Law 20
40	40	Section 3–203(a)(1), (2)(i)1. and 2. and (ii), (3)(i) and (ii), and (4) 21
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 22
42	42	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 23
43	43
44	44	BY adding to 24
45	45	Article – Election Law 25
46	46	Section 3–203(b) and 3–203.1 26
47	47	Annotated Code of Maryland 27
48	48	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 28 2 HOUSE BILL 1088
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
53	53	Article – Election Law 2
54	54	Section 3–203(b), 3–303, and 3–503 3
55	55	Annotated Code of Maryland 4
56	56	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 5
57	57
58	58	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
59	59	That Section(s) 3–203(c) through (j) of Article – Election Law of the Annotated Code of 7
60	60	Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 3–203(d) through (k), respectively. 8
61	61
62	62	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 9
63	63	as follows: 10
64	64
65	65	Article – Election Law 11
66	66
67	67	3–203. 12
68	68
69	69	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 13
70	70
71	71	(2) (i) “Applicable transaction” means: 14
72	72
73	73	1. at the Motor Vehicle Administration, an initial application 15
74	74	for or renewal of a driver’s license or identification card, or a change of name or address on 16
75	75	an existing driver’s license or identification card, or any other transaction in which the 17
76	76	Motor Vehicle Administration obtains all of the information from an applicant that satisfies 18
77	77	the requirements to register to vote; 19
78	78
79	79	2. at the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, any application 20
80	80	for or renewal of health insurance coverage; 21
81	81
82	82	(ii) “Applicable transaction” includes any transaction described in 22
83	83	subparagraph (i) of this paragraph that is completed online. 23
84	84
85	85	(3) “Automatic voter registration agency” means: 24
86	86
87	87	(i) the Motor Vehicle Administration; 25
88	88
89	89	(ii) the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; 26
90	90
91	91	(4) “Automatic voter registration system” means a system that, as an 27
92	92	integral part of each applicable transaction at an automatic voter registration agency: 28
93	93
94	94	(i) informs an applicant: 29
95	95
96	96	1. that the applicant shall be registered to vote or shall have 30
97	97	a voter registration record updated, if applicable, unless the applicant declines to register 31 HOUSE BILL 1088 3
98	98
99	99
100	100	to vote or update a voter registration record or if the applicant is not eligible to register to 1
101	101	vote; 2
102	102
103	103	2. of the qualifications to register to vote under § 3–102 of 3
104	104	this title; 4
105	105
106	106	3. that the applicant should not register if the applicant does 5
107	107	not meet all the qualifications; 6
108	108
109	109	4. of the penalties for the submission of a false application; 7
110	110	and 8
111	111
112	112	5. that voter registration is voluntary and that neither 9
113	113	registering nor declining to register to vote will in any way affect the availability of services 10
114	114	or benefits; 11
115	115
116	116	(ii) requires the electronic signature of the applicant, subject to the 12
117	117	penalties for perjury, by which the applicant attests that the information provided by the 13
118	118	applicant is true and that the applicant meets all the qualifications to become a registered 14
119	119	voter, including United States citizenship; and 15
120	120
121	121	(iii) electronically transmits the voter registration information of 16
122	122	each applicant who does not decline to register to vote or update a voter registration record 17
123	123	directly to the State Board: 18
124	124
125	125	1. in a manner and format specified jointly by the automatic 19
126	126	voter registration agency and the State Board; and 20
127	127
128	128	2. within 5 days of the applicable transaction. 21
129	129
130	130	(B) (1) WITH RESPECT TO APPLI CABLE TRANSACTIONS A T THE MOTOR 22
131	131	VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION , THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY IF THE APPLICAN T MEETS 23
132	132	THE CRITERIA DESCRIB ED IN § 3–203.1(D)(4) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
133	133
134	134	(2) WITH RESPECT TO APPLI CABLE TRANSACTIONS A T THE 25
135	135	MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE, THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY IF THE 26
136	136	APPLICANT MEETS THE CRITERIA DESCRIBED I N § 3–203.1(G)(3) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 27
137	137
138	138	[(b)] (C) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an 28
139	139	automatic voter registration agency shall implement an automatic voter registration 29
140	140	system on or before July 1, 2019. 30
141	141
142	142	(2) A local department of social services shall implement an automatic 31
143	143	voter registration system on or before December 1, 2019. 32
144	144
145	145	3–203.1. 33 4 HOUSE BILL 1088
146	146
147	147
148	148
149	149	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
150	150	INDICATED. 2
151	151
152	152	(2) “ADMINISTRATION ” MEANS THE MOTOR VEHICLE 3
153	153	ADMINISTRATION . 4
154	154
155	155	(3) (I) “APPLICABLE TRANSACTIO N” MEANS: 5
156	156
157	157	1. AT THE MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION , AN 6
158	158	INITIAL APPLICATION FOR OR RENEWAL OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE OR 7
159	159	IDENTIFICATION CARD , OR A CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS ON AN EXI STING 8
160	160	DRIVER’S LICENSE OR IDENTIF ICATION CARD; OR 9
161	161
162	162	2. AT THE EXCHANGE, ANY APPLICATION FOR OR 10
163	163	RENEWAL OF HEALTH IN SURANCE COVERAGE . 11
164	164
165	165	(II) “APPLICABLE TRANSACTIO N” INCLUDES ANY 12
166	166	TRANSACTION DESCRIBE D IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH TH AT IS 13
167	167	COMPLETED ONLINE . 14
168	168
169	169	(4) “EXCHANGE” MEANS THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT 15
170	170	EXCHANGE. 16
171	171
172	172	(B) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL VERIFY WITH THE STATE BOARD AT THE 17
173	173	TIME THAT AN APPLICA NT SUBMITS INFORMATI ON TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN AN 18
174	174	APPLICABLE TRANSACTI ON, WHETHER THE APPLICAN T IS CURRENTLY REGIS TERED 19
175	175	TO VOTE IN THE STATE. 20
176	176
177	177	(C) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL CATEGORIZE EACH TYPE OF DOCUMEN T 21
178	178	ACCEPTED AS PROOF OF IDENTITY BY THE ADMINISTRATION FOR AN APPLICABLE 22
179	179	TRANSACTION AS A DOC UMENT THAT : 23
180	180
181	181	(1) DEMONSTRATES THAT TH E APPLICANT IS A UNITED STATES 24
182	182	CITIZEN; 25
183	183
184	184	(2) DEMONSTRATES THAT TH E APPLICANT IS NOT A UNITED STATES 26
185	185	CITIZEN AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICABLE TRANS ACTION; OR 27
186	186
187	187	(3) DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE WHETHER OR NOT THE A PPLICANT IS A 28
188	188	UNITED STATES CITIZEN AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICAB LE TRANSACTION . 29
189	189	HOUSE BILL 1088 5
190	190
191	191
192	192	(D) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY NO T OFFER A VOTER REGI STRATION 1
193	193	OPPORTUNITY T O AN APPLICANT , AND MAY NOT TRANSMIT ANY VOTER 2
194	194	REGISTRATION INFORMA TION ABOUT AN APPLIC ANT TO THE STATE BOARD, IF THE 3
195	195	APPLICANT DURING AN APPLICABLE TRANSACTI ON PRESENTS A DOCUME NT THAT 4
196	196	DEMONSTRATES THAT TH E APPLICANT IS NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN AT THE 5
197	197	TIME OF THE APPLICAB LE TRANSACTION . 6
198	198
199	199	(2) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ELECTRONICALLY TRANS MIT THE 7
200	200	VOTER REGISTRATION I NFORMATION OF AN APP LICANT DIRECTLY TO T HE STATE 8
201	201	BOARD IF THE APPLICAN T FOR AN APPLICABLE TRANSACTION IS CURRE NTLY 9
202	202	REGISTERED TO VOTE I N THE STATE. 10
203	203
204	204	(3) (I) THE ADMINISTRATION SHAL L ELECTRONICALLY TRA NSMIT 11
205	205	THE VOTER REGISTRATI ON INFORMATION OF AN APPLICANT FOR AN APP LICABLE 12
206	206	TRANSACTION DIRECTLY TO THE STATE BOARD IF: 13
207	207
208	208	1. THE APPLICANT IS NOT CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO 14
209	209	VOTE IN THE STATE; 15
210	210
211	211	2. THE APPLICANT PRESEN TS A DOCUMENT 16
212	212	DEMONSTRATING THAT TH E APPLICANT IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN; AND 17
213	213
214	214	3. THE APPLICANT PROVID ES INFORMATION , AS PART 18
215	215	OF THE APPLICABLE TR ANSACTION, DEMONSTRATING THAT T HE APPLICANT IS AT 19
216	216	LEAST 16 YEARS OLD AND IS A R ESIDENT OF THE STATE AS OF THE DATE OF THE 20
217	217	APPLICABLE TRANSACTI ON. 21
218	218
219	219	(II) BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION ELECTR ONICALLY 22
220	220	TRANSMITS AN APPLICA NT’S VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO THE STATE 23
221	221	BOARD UNDER SUBPARAGR APH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE ADMINISTRATION 24
222	222	SHALL OFFER THE APPL ICANT THE OPPORTUNIT Y TO SELECT A POLITI CAL PARTY 25
223	223	AFFILIATION. 26
224	224
225	225	(4) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL OFFER AN APPLICANT F OR AN 27
226	226	APPLICABLE TRANSACTI ON A VOTER REGISTRAT ION OPPORTUNITY THRO UGH AN 28
227	227	AUTOMATIC VOTER REGI STRATION SYSTEM IN A CCORDANCE WITH § 3–203 OF THIS 29
228	228	SUBTITLE IF THE APPL ICANT: 30
229	229
230	230	(I) IS NOT CURRENTLY RE GISTERED TO VOTE IN THE STATE; 31
231	231	AND 32
232	232
233	233	(II) PRESENTS ONLY DOCUME NTS THAT DO NOT DEMO NSTRATE 33
234	234	WHETHER THE APPLICAN T IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN AT THE TIME OF THE 34 6 HOUSE BILL 1088
235	235
236	236
237	237	APPLICABLE TRANSACTI ON, OR THE APPLICANT DOE S NOT PRESENT ANY 1
238	238	DOCUMENT AT THE TIME OF THE APPLIC ABLE TRANSACTION . 2
239	239
240	240	(E) (1) IF THE VOTER REGISTRA TION INFORMATION REC EIVED BY THE 3
241	241	STATE BOARD UNDER SUBSECTIO N (D)(2) OF THIS SECTION FOR AN APPLICANT 4
242	242	WHO IS CURRENTLY REG ISTERED TO VOTE IN T HE STATE: 5
243	243
244	244	(I) INDICATES THAT THE A PPLICANT HAS NOT CHA NGED THE 6
245	245	APPLICANT’S RESIDENTIAL ADDRES S, MAILING ADDRESS , OR NAME, THE STATE 7
246	246	BOARD SHALL: 8
247	247
248	248	1. CAUSE THE DATE OF TH E UPDATE TO BE RECOR DED 9
249	249	IN THE STATEWIDE VOT ER REGISTRATION LIST ; AND 10
250	250
251	251	2. IF THE APPLICANT IS IN INACTIVE VOTER ST ATUS, 11
252	252	CAUSE THE APPLICANT TO BE RESTORED TO AC TIVE VOTER STATUS AS PROVIDED IN 12
253	253	§ 3–503 OF THIS TITLE; OR 13
254	254
255	255	(II) INDICATES THAT THE A PPLICANT HAS CHANGED THE 14
256	256	APPLICANT’S RESIDENTIAL ADDRES S, MAILING ADDRESS , OR NAME, THE STATE 15
257	257	BOARD SHALL: 16
258	258
259	259	1. CAUSE THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST 17
260	260	TO BE UPDATED ; 18
261	261
262	262	2. IF THE APPLICANT IS IN INACTIVE VOTER ST ATUS, 19
263	263	CAUSE THE APPLICANT TO BE RESTORED TO AC TIVE VOTER STATUS AS PROVIDED IN 20
264	264	§ 3–503 OF THIS TITLE; 21
265	265
266	266	3. WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE 22
267	267	VOTER REGISTRATIO N INFORMATION FROM T HE ADMINISTRATION , CAUSE AN 23
268	268	AUTOMATIC VOTER REGI STRATION UPDATE NOTI CE TO BE SENT BY 24
269	269	NONFORWARDABLE MAIL TO THE APPLICANT ; AND 25
270	270
271	271	4. IF THE APPLICANT AFF IRMATIVELY CORRECTS THE 26
272	272	UPDATE IN WRITING , CAUSE THE APPLICANT ’S INFORMATION TO B E MODIFIED 27
273	273	APPROPRIATELY IN THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGI STRATION LIST. 28
274	274
275	275	(2) THE STATE BOARD MAY ASSIGN RESP ONSIBILITY FOR 29
276	276	PERFORMING SOME OR A LL OF THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN PARAGRA PH (1) OF 30
277	277	THIS SUBSECTION TO T HE LOCAL BOARDS . 31
278	278	HOUSE BILL 1088 7
279	279
280	280
281	281	(3) THE STATE BOARD SHAL L PROVIDE AN ELECTRO NIC MEANS BY 1
282	282	WHICH AN APPLICANT M AY CORRECT A VOTER R EGISTRATION UPDATE U NDER 2
283	283	PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 3
284	284
285	285	(4) AN AUTOMATIC VOTER RE GISTRATION UPDATE NO TICE MAY BE 4
286	286	COMBINED WITH A VOTE R ACKNOWLEDGMENT NOT ICE OR VOTER NOTIFIC ATION 5
287	287	CARD DESCRIBED IN § 3–301(C) OF THIS TITLE, SHALL BE IN A FORMAT PRESCRIBED 6
288	288	BY THE STATE BOARD, AND SHALL: 7
289	289
290	290	(I) INCLUDE A STATEMENT EXPLAINING THAT THE 8
291	291	APPLICANT’S VOTER REGISTRATION HAS BEEN UPDATED , AND STATING THAT IF THE 9
292	292	UPDATE WAS IN ERROR , THE APPLICANT SHOULD AFFIRMATIVELY CORREC T THE 10
293	293	UPDATE; 11
294	294
295	295	(II) ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO CORRECT THE UPDAT E BY 12
296	296	MAKING AN APPROPRIAT E NOTATION AND RETUR NING THE NOTICE POST AGE 13
297	297	PREPAID; AND 14
298	298
299	299	(III) INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW THE AP PLICANT 15
300	300	MAY: 16
301	301
302	302	1. CORRECT THE UPDATE E LECTRONICALLY ; AND 17
303	303
304	304	2. OBTAIN MORE INFORMAT ION ABOUT THE NOTICE . 18
305	305
306	306	(F) (1) WHEN THE STATE BOARD RECEIVES AN APP LICANT’S VOTER 19
307	307	REGISTRATION INFORMA TION UNDER SUBSECTIO N (D)(3) OF THIS SECTION AND NO 20
308	308	OTHER INFORMATION IN DICATES TH AT THE APPLICANT IS NOT QUALIFIED TO 21
309	309	BECOME A REGISTERED VOTER, THE STATE BOARD SHALL: 22
310	310
311	311	(I) WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE 23
312	312	APPLICANT’S VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION , CAUSE AN AUTOMATIC V OTER 24
313	313	REGISTRATION NOTICE TO BE SENT BY NONFOR WARDABLE MAIL TO THE 25
314	314	APPLICANT; AND 26
315	315
316	316	(II) 1. IF THE APPLICANT DOE S NOT AFFIRMATIVELY 27
317	317	DECLINE TO BE REGISTERED TO VOT E WITHIN 21 DAYS AFTER THE MAILI NG OF THE 28
318	318	AUTOMATIC VOTER REGI STRATION NOTICE , CAUSE THE APPLICANT TO BE LISTED IN 29
319	319	ACTIVE VOTER STATUS IN THE STATEWIDE VOT ER REGISTRATION LIST ; OR 30
320	320
321	321	2. IF THE APPLICANT AFF IRMATIVELY DECLINES TO BE 31
322	322	REGISTERED TO VOTE , CAUSE THE APPLICANT ’S INFORMATION TO BE CANCELED 32
323	323	FROM THE STATEWIDE V OTER REGISTRATION LI ST. 33 8 HOUSE BILL 1088
324	324
325	325
326	326
327	327	(2) THE STATE BOARD MAY ASSIGN RESP ONSIBILITY FOR 1
328	328	PERFORMING SOME OR A LL OF THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN PARAGRA PH (1) OF 2
329	329	THIS SUBSECTION TO T HE LOCAL BOARDS . 3
330	330
331	331	(3) THE STATE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE A N ELECTRONIC MEANS B Y 4
332	332	WHICH AN APPLICANT M AY SELECT A POLITICA L PARTY AFFILIATION . 5
333	333
334	334	(4) AN AUTOMATIC VOTER RE GISTRATION NOTICE MA Y BE COMBINED 6
335	335	WITH A VOTER ACKNOWL EDGMENT NOTICE OR VO TER NOTIFICATIO N CARD 7
336	336	DESCRIBED IN § 3–301(C) OF THIS TITLE, SHALL BE IN A FORMAT PRESCRIBED BY 8
337	337	THE STATE BOARD, AND SHALL: 9
338	338
339	339	(I) INFORM THE APPLICANT : 10
340	340
341	341	1. THAT THE APPLICANT S HALL BE REGISTERED T O 11
342	342	VOTE UNLESS THE APPL ICANT DECLINES TO RE GISTER TO VOTE OR IF THE 12
343	343	APPLICANT IS NOT ELIG IBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE; 13
344	344
345	345	2. OF THE QUALIFICATION S TO REGISTER TO VOT E 14
346	346	UNDER § 3–102 OF THIS TITLE; 15
347	347
348	348	3. THAT THE APPLICANT S HOULD DECLINE 16
349	349	REGISTRATION IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT M EET ALL THE QUALIFIC ATIONS FOR 17
350	350	VOTER REGISTRATI ON; 18
351	351
352	352	4. OF THE PENALTIES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A FALSE 19
353	353	APPLICATION; 20
354	354
355	355	5. THAT VOTER REGISTRAT ION IS VOLUNTARY AND THAT 21
356	356	NEITHER REGISTERING NOR DECLINING TO REG ISTER TO VOTE WILL I N ANY WAY 22
357	357	AFFECT THE AVAILABIL ITY OF SERVICES OR B ENEFITS; AND 23
358	358
359	359	6. THAT IF THE APPLICAN T DOES NOT SELECT A 24
360	360	POLITICAL PARTY AFFI LIATION, THE APPLICANT WILL B E DESIGNATED AS NOT 25
361	361	AFFILIATED WITH A PO LITICAL PARTY AND WI LL BE UNABLE TO VOTE IN A PARTY 26
362	362	PRIMARY ELECTION ; 27
363	363
364	364	(II) ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO: 28
365	365
366	366	1. DECLINE TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE B Y MAKING AN 29
367	367	APPROPRIATE NOTATION AND RETURNING THE NO TICE POSTAGE PREPAID ; AND 30
368	368	HOUSE BILL 1088 9
369	369
370	370
371	371	2. SELECT A POLITICAL P ARTY AFFILIATION BY MAKING 1
372	372	AN APPROPRIATE NOTAT ION AND RETURNING TH E NOTICE POSTAGE PRE PAID; AND 2
373	373
374	374	(III) INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW THE AP PLICANT 3
375	375	MAY: 4
376	376
377	377	1. SELECT A POLITICAL P ARTY AFFILIATION 5
378	378	ELECTRONICALLY ; AND 6
379	379
380	380	2. OBTAIN MORE INFORMAT ION ABOUT THE NOTICE . 7
381	381
382	382	(5) IF THE STATE BOARD OR A LOCAL BOAR D, AFTER REVIEWING THE 8
383	383	VOTER REGISTRATION I NFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER 9
384	384	SUBSECTION (D)(3) OF THIS SECTION , DETERMINES THAT AN A PPLICANT IS 10
385	385	CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO VOTE, THE STATE BOARD OR LOCAL BOARD SHALL 11
386	386	PROCESS THE VOTER RE GISTRATION INFORMATI ON IN ACCORDANCE WIT H 12
387	387	SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION. 13
388	388
389	389	(6) A DOCUMENT DEMONSTRATI NG THAT AN APPLICANT IS A UNITED 14
390	390	STATES CITIZEN PRESEN TED DURING AN APPLIC ANT’S PREVIOUS TRANSACTI ON 15
391	391	WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND RE TAINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION UNDER 6 16
392	392	C.F.R. § 37.31 SATISFIES THE REQUIR EMENT OF SUBSECTION (D)(3)(I)2 OF THIS 17
393	393	SECTION FOR A SUBSEQ UENT APPLICABLE TRAN SACTION AT THE ADMINISTRATION . 18
394	394
395	395	(7) SOLELY FOR PURPOSES O F DETERMINING WHETHE R AN 19
396	396	APPLICANT HAS MET TH E REQUIREMENT OF SUB SECTION (D)(3)(I)2 OF THIS 20
397	397	SECTION, THE ADMINISTRATION MAY IM PLEMENT ADDITIONAL P ROCEDURES TO 21
398	398	REVIEW COPIES OF DOC UMENTS DEMONSTRATING THAT THE APPLICANT I S A 22
399	399	UNITED STATES CITIZEN THAT WERE PRESENTED DURING AN APPLICANT’S 23
400	400	PREVIOUS TRANSACTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND RE TAINED BY THE 24
401	401	ADMINISTRATION UNDER 6 C.F.R. § 37.31. 25
402	402
403	403	(G) (1) THE EXCHANGE SHALL IDENTI FY EACH APPLICABLE 26
404	404	TRANSACTION AT THE EXCHANGE IN WHICH AN APPLICANT’S ATTESTATION OF 27
405	405	UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP IS RELIABLY VERIFIED TH ROUGH AN ELECTRONIC 28
406	406	DATABASE MATCH AS PA RT OF THE ELIGIBILIT Y DETERMINATION PROC ESS. 29
407	407
408	408	(2) THE EXCHANGE MAY NOT OFFE R A VOTER REGISTRATI ON 30
409	409	OPPORTUNITY TO AN AP PLICANT, AND MAY NOT TR ANSMIT ANY VOTER 31
410	410	REGISTRATION INFORMA TION ABOUT AN APPLIC ANT TO THE STATE BOARD, IF THE 32
411	411	APPLICANT ATTESTS TH AT THE APPLICANT IS NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN AT 33
412	412	THE TIME OF THE APPL ICABLE TRANSACTION . 34
413	413	10 HOUSE BILL 1088
414	414
415	415
416	416	(3) THE EXCHANGE SHALL OFFER AN APPLICANT FOR AN 1
417	417	APPLICABLE TRANSACTION A VOTER REGISTRATION O PPORTUNITY IN 2
418	418	ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE IF: 3
419	419
420	420	(I) THE APPLICANT ’S ATTESTATION OF CIT IZENSHIP IS NOT 4
421	421	RELIABLY VERIFIED TH ROUGH AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE MATCH ; AND 5
422	422
423	423	(II) THE APPLICANT HAS NO T ATTESTED THAT THE APPLICA NT 6
424	424	IS NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN. 7
425	425
426	426	(4) THE EXCHANGE SHALL MAINTA IN AN ELECTRONIC INF ORMATION 8
427	427	SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS T HE EXCHANGE TO DETERMINE , AT THE TIME THAT AN 9
428	428	APPLICANT SUBMITS IN FORMATION TO THE EXCHANGE IN AN APPLIC ABLE 10
429	429	TRANSACTION , WHETHER THE APPLICAN T IS CURRENTLY REGIS TERED TO VOTE IN 11
430	430	THE STATE. 12
431	431
432	432	(5) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 13
433	433	PARAGRAPH , THE EXCHANGE SHALL IMPLEM ENT THE AUTOMATIC VO TER 14
434	434	REGISTRATION UPDATE PROCEDURE IN ACCORDA NCE WITH PARAGRAPH (6) OF 15
435	435	THIS SUBSECTION OR T HE AUTOMATIC VOTER R EGISTRATION PROCEDUR E IN 16
436	436	ACCORDANCE WITH PARA GRAPH (7) OF THIS SUBSECTION I F: 17
437	437
438	438	1. AN APPLICANT ’S ATTESTATION OF CIT IZENSHIP IS 18
439	439	RELIABLY VERIFIED TH ROUGH AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE MATCH AS PA RT OF THE 19
440	440	ELIGIBILITY DETERMIN ATION PROCESS ; AND 20
441	441
442	442	2. THE APPLICANT PROVID ES INFORMATION AS PART OF 21
443	443	THE APPLICABLE TRANS ACTION DEMONSTRATING THAT THE APPLICANT I S AT 22
444	444	LEAST 16 YEARS OLD AND IS A R ESIDENT OF THE STATE AS OF THE DATE OF THE 23
445	445	APPLICABLE TRANSACTI ON. 24
446	446
447	447	(II) IF AN APPLICANT IS CU RRENTLY REGISTERED T O VOTE IN 25
448	448	THE STATE AND TH E INFORMATION SUBMIT TED BY THE APPLICANT TO THE 26
449	449	EXCHANGE INDICATES TH AT THE APPLICANT HAS NOT CHANGED THE APPL ICANT’S 27
450	450	RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS , MAILING ADDRESS , OR NAME, THE EXCHANGE MAY NOT 28
451	451	TAKE ANY FURTHER ACT ION WITH REGARD TO T HE APPLICANT ’S VOTER 29
452	452	REGISTRAT ION. 30
453	453
454	454	(6) (I) IF AN APPLICANT IS CU RRENTLY REGISTERED T O VOTE IN 31
455	455	THE STATE AND THE INFORMA TION SUBMITTED BY TH E APPLICANT TO THE 32
456	456	EXCHANGE INDICATES TH AT THE APPLICANT HAS CHANGED THE APPLICAN T’S 33
457	457	RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS , MAILING ADDRESS , OR NAME, THE EXCHANGE SHALL: 34
458	458	HOUSE BILL 1088 11
459	459
460	460
461	461	1. WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE 1
462	462	APPLICANT’S INFORMATION , CAUSE AN AUTOMATIC V OTER REGISTRATION UP DATE 2
463	463	NOTICE TO BE SENT BY NONFORWARDABLE MAIL TO THE APPLICANT ; AND 3
464	464
465	465	2. A. IF THE APPLICANT DOE S NOT AFFIRMATIVELY 4
466	466	CORRECT THE AUTOMATIC VOTE R REGISTRATION UPDAT E NOTICE IN WRITING 5
467	467	WITHIN 21 DAYS AFTER THE MAILI NG OF THE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION 6
468	468	UPDATE NOTICE , ELECTRONICALLY TRANS MIT THE VOTER REGIST RATION 7
469	469	INFORMATION OF THE A PPLICANT DIRECTLY TO THE STATE BOARD; OR 8
470	470
471	471	B. IF THE APPLICANT AFF IRMATIVELY CORRECTS THE 9
472	472	AUTOMATIC VOTER REGI STRATION UPDATE NOTI CE IN WRITING WITHIN 21 DAYS 10
473	473	AFTER THE MAILING OF THE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION UPDATE NOTICE, 11
474	474	ELECTRONICALLY TRANS MIT THE CORRECTED VO TER REGISTRATION 12
475	475	INFORMATION OF THE APPLICANT DIR ECTLY TO THE STATE BOARD. 13
476	476
477	477	(II) THE EXCHANGE SHALL PROVID E AN ELECTRONIC MEAN S 14
478	478	BY WHICH AN APPLICAN T MAY CORRECT A VOTE R REGISTRATION UPDAT E UNDER 15
479	479	SUBPARAGRAPH (I)2B OF THIS PARAGRAPH . 16
480	480
481	481	(III) THE AUTOMATIC VOTER R EGISTRATION UPDA TE NOTICE 17
482	482	SENT UNDER SUBPARAGR APH (I)1 OF THIS PARAGRAPH SH ALL BE PRESCRIBED BY 18
483	483	THE EXCHANGE, IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE STATE BOARD, IN A FORMAT 19
484	484	SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILA R TO THE AUTOMATIC V OTER REGISTRATION UP DATE 20
485	485	NOTICE REQUIRED UNDE R SUBSECTION (E)(4) OF THIS SECTION. 21
486	486
487	487	(7) (I) IF AN APPLICANT IS NO T CURRENTLY REGISTER ED TO VOTE 22
488	488	IN THE STATE AND NO INFORMAT ION SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT TO THE 23
489	489	EXCHANGE INDICATES TH AT THE APPLICANT IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BEC OME A 24
490	490	REGISTERED VOTER , THE EXCHANGE SHALL : 25
491	491
492	492	1. WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE 26
493	493	APPLICANT’S INFORMATION , CAUSE AN AUTOMATIC V OTER REGISTRATION NO TICE 27
494	494	TO BE SENT BY NONFOR WARDABLE MAIL TO THE APPLICANT; AND 28
495	495
496	496	2. A. IF THE APPLICANT DOE S NOT AFFIRMATIVELY 29
497	497	DECLINE TO BE REGIST ERED TO VOTE WITHIN 21 DAYS AFTER THE MAILI NG OF THE 30
498	498	AUTOMATIC VOTER REGI STRATION NOTICE , ELECTRONICALLY TRANS MIT THE 31
499	499	VOTER REGISTRATION I NFORMATION OF THE AP PLICANT DIRECTLY TO THE STATE 32
500	500	BOARD; OR 33
501	501	12 HOUSE BILL 1088
502	502
503	503
504	504	B. IF THE APPLICANT AFF IRMATIVELY DECLINES TO BE 1
505	505	REGISTERED TO VO TE, PREVENT THE TRANSMIS SION OF THE VOTER RE GISTRATION 2
506	506	INFORMATION OF THE A PPLICANT TO THE STATE BOARD. 3
507	507
508	508	(II) THE EXCHANGE SHALL PROVID E AN ELECTRONIC MEAN S 4
509	509	BY WHICH AN APPLICAN T MAY: 5
510	510
511	511	1. DECLINE VOTER REGIST RATION UNDER 6
512	512	SUBPARAGRAPH (I)2B OF THIS PARAGRAPH ; OR 7
513	513
514	514	2. SELECT A POLITICAL P ARTY AFFILIATION . 8
515	515
516	516	(III) THE AUTOMATIC VOTER R EGISTRATION NOTICE S ENT 9
517	517	UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I)1 OF THIS PARAGRAPH SH ALL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE 10
518	518	EXCHANGE, IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE STATE BOARD, IN A FORMAT 11
519	519	SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGI STRATION NOTICE 12
520	520	REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (F)(4) OF THIS SECTION. 13
521	521
522	522	(8) (I) FOR EACH APPLICANT WH OSE VOTER REGISTRATI ON 14
523	523	INFORMATION IS TRANS MITTED TO THE STATE BOARD UNDER PARAGRAPH (6) OF 15
524	524	THIS SUBSECTION , THE STATE BOARD SHALL: 16
525	525
526	526	1. CAUSE THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION L IST 17
527	527	TO BE UPDATED ; AND 18
528	528
529	529	2. IF THE APPLICANT IS IN INACTIVE VOTER ST ATUS, 19
530	530	CAUSE THE APPLICANT TO BE RESTORED TO AC TIVE VOTER STATUS AS PROVIDED IN 20
531	531	§ 3–503 OF THIS TITLE. 21
532	532
533	533	(II) FOR EACH APPLICANT WHOSE VOTE R REGISTRATION 22
534	534	INFORMATION IS TRANS MITTED TO THE STATE BOARD UNDER PARAGRAPH (7) OF 23
535	535	THIS SUBSECTION , THE STATE BOARD SHALL CAUSE THE APPLICANT TO BE LIST ED 24
536	536	IN ACTIVE VOTER STAT US IN THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION L IST. 25
537	537
538	538	(III) THE STATE BOARD MAY ASSIGN RESP ONSIBILITY FOR 26
539	539	PERFORMING SOME OR A LL OF THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN SUBPARA GRAPHS 27
540	540	(I) AND (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH TO THE LOCAL BOARDS . 28
541	541
542	542	(IV) IF THE STATE BOARD OR A LOCAL BOAR D, AFTER 29
543	543	REVIEWING THE VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMA TION RECEIVED BY THE STATE 30
544	544	BOARD UNDER PARAGRAPH (7) OF THIS SUBSECTION , DETERMINES THAT AN 31
545	545	APPLICANT IS CURRENT LY REGISTERED TO VOT E, THE STATE BOARD OR LOCAL 32 HOUSE BILL 1088 13
546	546
547	547
548	548	BOARD SHALL PROCESS THE VOTER REGISTRATI ON INFORMATION IN AC CORDANCE 1
549	549	WITH SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH . 2
550	550
551	551	(9) THE PROCEDURES FOR AU TOMATIC VOTER REGIST RATION AT 3
552	552	THE EXCHANGE UNDER THIS S UBSECTION: 4
553	553
554	554	(I) ARE SUBJECT TO FEDER AL LAWS AND REGULATI ONS 5
555	555	GOVERNING APPLICABLE TRANSACTIONS AT THE EXCHANGE; AND 6
556	556
557	557	(II) MAY BE MODIFIED BY T HE EXCHANGE AND THE STATE 7
558	558	BOARD WHEN NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH FEDER AL LAWS AND REGULATI ONS. 8
559	559
560	560	(10) (I) THE EXCHANGE MAY ASSIGN R ESPONSIBILITY FOR 9
561	561	PERFORMING SOME OR A LL OF THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO BE PERFO RMED BY 10
562	562	THE EXCHANGE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION TO A N AGENT OF THE EXCHANGE. 11
563	563
564	564	(II) SUBJECT TO FEDERAL LA WS AND REGULATIONS 12
565	565	GOVERNING APPLICABLE TRANSACTIONS , THE STATE BOARD MAY SERVE AS AN 13
566	566	AGENT OF THE EXCHANGE UNDER SUBPAR AGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH . 14
567	567
568	568	(H) THE STATE BOARD MAY: 15
569	569
570	570	(1) IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL STATE, FEDERAL, OR LOCAL AGENCIES 16
571	571	THAT, IN THE REGULAR COURS E OF BUSINESS , RELIABLY VERIFY APPL ICANTS’ 17
572	572	CITIZENSHIP BY VERIF YING DOCUMENTS OR TH ROUGH AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE 18
573	573	MATCH; AND 19
574	574
575	575	(2) WITH THE CONSENT OF THE AGENCY , IMPLEMENT THE 20
576	576	PROCEDURES FOR AUTOM ATIC VOTER REGISTRAT ION IN ACCORDANCE WI TH 21
577	577	SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION. 22
578	578
579	579	(I) THE STATE BOARD MAY: 23
580	580
581	581	(1) IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL STATE, FEDERAL, OR LOCAL AGENCIES 24
582	582	THAT, IN THE REGULAR COURS E OF BUSINESS , RELIABLY COLLECT SUF FICIENT 25
583	583	INFORMATION TO UPDAT E THE VOTER REGISTRA TION INFORMATION OF 26
584	584	APPLICANTS CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO VOTE I N THE STATE; AND 27
585	585
586	586	(2) WITH THE CONSENT OF THE AGENCY , IMPLEMENT THE 28
587	587	PROCEDURES FOR AUTOM ATIC VOTER REGISTRAT ION UPDATES IN ACCOR DANCE 29
588	588	WITH SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION. 30
589	589	14 HOUSE BILL 1088
590	590
591	591
592	592	(J) (1) THE PROCEDURES UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT APPLY TO AN 1
593	593	APPLICANT FOR AN APP LICABLE TRANSACTION WHO IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE 2
594	594	ADDRESS CONFIDENTIAL ITY PROGRAM UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 3 OF THE STATE 3
595	595	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 4
596	596
597	597	(2) THE ADMINISTRATION AND TH E EXCHANGE SHALL IMPLEM ENT 5
598	598	PROCEDURES THAT PREV ENT THE TRANSMISSION OF VOTER REGISTRATIO N 6
599	599	INFORMATION UNDER TH IS SECTION CONCERNIN G A PARTICIPANT IN T HE ADDRESS 7
600	600	CONFIDENTIALITY PROG RAM UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 3 OF THE STATE 8
601	601	GOVERNMEN T ARTICLE TO THE STATE BOARD. 9
602	602
603	603	(3) THE STATE BOARD OR THE EXCHANGE MAY EXCLUDE 10
604	604	PARTICIPANTS IN THE PERSONAL INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY PROG RAM 11
605	605	UNDER COMAR 33.04.02.01 THROUGH 33.04.02.07 FROM THE AUTOMATIC V OTER 12
606	606	REGISTRATION UPDATE PROCEDURE UNDER SUBS ECTION (E) OR (G)(6) OF THIS 13
607	607	SECTION OR MODIFY TH E PROCEDURE FOR PART ICIPANTS IN THE PROG RAM AS 14
608	608	NECESSARY. 15
609	609
610	610	(K) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN REGULATIO NS ADOPTED BY THE 16
611	611	STATE BOARD, THE PROCEDURES REQUI RED IN SUBSECTIONS (E), (F), AND (G)(8)(I) 17
612	612	AND (II) OF THIS SECTION DO N OT APPLY WHEN VOTER REGISTRATION IS CLOS ED 18
613	613	UNDER § 3–302 OF THIS TITLE. 19
614	614
615	615	(L) AN APPLICANT WHO IS S ENT AN AUTOMATIC VOT ER REGISTRATION 20
616	616	NOTICE UNDER THIS SE CTION: 21
617	617
618	618	(1) WHO DOES NOT AFFIRMA TIVELY DECLINE TO BE REGISTERED TO 22
619	619	VOTE WITHIN 21 DAYS AFTER THE MAILI NG OF THE AUTOMATIC VOTER 23
620	620	REGISTRATION NOTICE SHALL BE DEEMED TO H AVE BEEN REGISTERED ON THE 24
621	621	DATE OF THE APPLICAB LE TRANSACTION ; AND 25
622	622
623	623	(2) WHO AFFIRMATIVELY DE CLINES TO REGISTER T O VOTE WITHIN 21 26
624	624	DAYS AFTER THE MAILI NG OF THE AUTOM ATIC VOTER REGISTRAT ION NOTICE SHALL 27
625	625	BE DEEMED NEVER TO H AVE REGISTERED TO VO TE OR HAVE ATTEMPTED TO 28
626	626	REGISTER TO VOTE . 29
627	627
628	628	3–303. 30
629	629
630	630	(a) Notification of a change of party affiliation or a change to or from a decline 31
631	631	may be made: 32
632	632
633	633	(1) by information provided on a voter registration application by the same 33
634	634	methods provided for registration under Subtitle 2 of this title; 34
635	635	HOUSE BILL 1088 15
636	636
637	637
638	638	(2) by written notice, signed by the voter and sent by mail or otherwise 1
639	639	delivered to the local board in the county where the voter’s current voter registration 2
640	640	address is located or to which the voter has moved; 3
641	641
642	642	(3) by making application in person at the office of the local board in the 4
643	643	county where the voter’s current voter registration address is located or to which the voter 5
644	644	has moved; 6
645	645
646	646	(4) by information on a voter authority card or other appropriate form filled 7
647	647	out in a polling place; or 8
648	648
649	649	(5) by changing a name or address with the Motor Vehicle Administration. 9
650	650
651	651	(b) Party affiliation changes or changes to or from a decline: 10
652	652
653	653	(1) shall be processed at any time that registration is open; and 11
654	654
655	655	(2) except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, may not be processed 12
656	656	when registration is closed. 13
657	657
658	658	(c) If a local board receives a request for a party affiliation change after the close 14
659	659	of registration, the local board shall make the change and it shall become effective for the 15
660	660	next election provided: 16
661	661
662	662	(1) there is sufficient evidence, as determined by the local boards pursuant 17
663	663	to regulations adopted by the State Board, that the request was mailed on or before the 18
664	664	close of registration for that election; [or] 19
665	665
666	666	(2) the request was submitted by the voter to the Motor Vehicle 20
667	667	Administration, a voter registration agency, another local board, or the State Board on or 21
668	668	before the close of registration for that election; OR 22
669	669
670	670	(3) THE REQUEST WAS SUBM ITTED BY A VOTER: 23
671	671
672	672	(I) WHOSE VOTER REGISTRA TION INFORMATION W AS 24
673	673	TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE BOARD UNDER § 3–203.1(F) OR (G)(7) OF THIS TITLE; 25
674	674
675	675	(II) WHO HAS NOT AFFILIAT ED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY SINCE 26
676	676	THE TIME THE VOTER ’S VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION WAS SENT TO THE 27
677	677	STATE BOARD UNDER § 3–203.1(F) OR (G)(7) OF THIS TITLE; AND 28
678	678
679	679	(III) WHO MAKES THE REQUES T ON: 29
680	680
681	681	1. A VOTER AUTHORITY CA RD OR OTHER APPROPRI ATE 30
682	682	FORM FILLED OUT IN A POLLING PLACE ; OR 31
683	683	16 HOUSE BILL 1088
684	684
685	685
686	686	2. AN ABSENTEE BALLOT A PPLICATION. 1
687	687
688	688	3–503. 2
689	689
690	690	(a) If a voter fails to respond to a confirmation notice under § 3–502(c) of this 3
691	691	subtitle, the voter’s name shall be placed into inactive status on the statewide voter 4
692	692	registration list. 5
693	693
694	694	(b) A voter shall be restored to active status on the statewide voter registration 6
695	695	list after: 7
696	696
697	697	(1) completing and signing any of the following election documents: 8
698	698
699	699	[(1)] (I) a voter registration application; 9
700	700
701	701	[(2)] (II) a petition governed by Title 6 of this article; 10
702	702
703	703	[(3)] (III) a certificate of candidacy; 11
704	704
705	705	[(4)] (IV) an absentee ballot application; or 12
706	706
707	707	[(5)] (V) a written affirmation of residence completed on election day to 13
708	708	entitle the voter to vote either at the election district or precinct for the voter’s current 14
709	709	residence or the voter’s previous residence, as determined by the State Board; OR 15
710	710
711	711	(2) COMPLETING AN APPLICABLE TRANSA CTION THAT RESULTS I N 16
712	712	THE TRANSMISSION OF VOTER REGISTRATION I NFORMATION TO THE STATE BOARD 17
713	713	UNDER § 3–203.1(E) OR (G)(6) OF THIS TITLE. 18
714	714
715	715	(c) An inactive voter who fails to vote in an election in the period ending with the 19
716	716	second general election shall be removed from the statewide voter registration list. 20
717	717
718	718	(d) Registrants placed into inactive status may not be counted for official 21
719	719	administrative purposes including establishing precincts and reporting official statistics. 22
720	720
721	721	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
722	722	January 1, 2025. 24