EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0142*
HOUSE BILL 142
G1 EMERGENCY BILL 4lr1251
HB 926/23 – W&M (PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate R. Long
Requested: October 30, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Polling Places – Establishing Voter Identity 2
(Voter Privacy Act of 2024) 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing a voter to establish the voter’s identity at the request of an 4
election judge at a polling place by presenting certain proof of identity; and generally 5
relating to establishing a voter’s identity at a polling place. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Election Law 8
Section 10–310(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Election Law 14
10–310. 15
(a) For each individual who seeks to vote, an election judge, in accordance with 16
instructions provided by the local board, shall: 17
(1) locate the individual’s name in the election register and locate the 18
preprinted voting authority card and then authorize the individual to vote a regular ballot; 19
(2) (i) if the individual’s name is not found on the election register, 20
search the inactive list and if the name is found, authorize the individual to vote a regular 21
ballot; or 22
2 HOUSE BILL 142
(ii) if the individual’s name is not on the inactive list, refer the 1
individual for provisional ballot voting under § 9–404 of this article; 2
(3) establish the identity of the voter by requesting the voter to EITHER: 3
(I) state the month and day of the voter’s birth and comparing the 4
response to the information listed in the election register; OR 5
(II) PRESENT ANY OF THE F OLLOWING FORMS OF 6
IDENTIFICATION : 7
1. THE VOTER’S VOTER REGISTRATION CARD; 8
2. THE VOTER’S VALID MARYLAND DRIVER ’S LICENSE; 9
OR 10
3. ANY IDENTIFICATION C ARD THAT CONTAINS A 11
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VO TER AND IS ISSUED TO THE VOTER BY A POLIT ICAL 12
SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, OR ANY UNIT 13
OF A POLITICAL SUBDI VISION OF THE STATE, THE STATE, OR THE FEDERAL 14
GOVERNMENT ; 15
(4) (i) except if a voter’s personal information has been deemed 16
confidential by the local board, verify the address of the voter’s residence; or 17
(ii) conduct an alternative verification as established by the State 18
Board, if the voter’s personal information has been deemed confidential by the local board; 19
(5) if any changes to the voting authority card are indicated by a voter, 20
make the appropriate changes in information on the card or other appropriate form; and 21
(6) have the voter sign the voting authority card and either issue the voter 22
a ballot or send the voter to a machine to vote. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 24
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 25
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 26
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 27
enacted. 28