Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB660 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 MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0660
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 660
8	8	G1 4lr1385
9	9	CF 4lr1495
10	10	By: Senator Sydnor
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2024
12	12	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2024 – Counties and Municipalities 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of prohibiting local governments from denying or impairing the right of a 3
21	21	protected class member to vote; requiring the Attorney General to approve or deny 4
22	22	proposed local government remedies to address certain violations; establishing 5
23	23	requirements on the State Board of Elections and local governments related to the 6
24	24	provision of language–related assistance in local government elections; requiring the 7
25	25	Attorney General or the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County to review and grant 8
26	26	preclearance to certain policies before enactment or implementation; prohibiting acts 9
27	27	of intimidation or obstruction that interfere with the right to vote; requiring the 10
28	28	State Board to conduct a certain needs assessment and award certain grants; 11
29	29	establishing the Voting Rights Act Implementation Grant Fund as a nonlapsing 12
30	30	special fund; requiring the interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; 13
31	31	and generally relating to voting rights in counties and municipalities. 14
32	32
33	33	BY adding to 15
34	34	Article – Election Law 16
35	35	Section 15.5–101 through 15.5–703 to be under the new title “Title 15.5. Voting 17
36	36	Rights Act – Counties and Municipalities” 18
37	37	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
38	38	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 20
39	39
40	40	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
41	41	Article – State Finance and Procurement 22
42	42	Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 23
43	43	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
44	44	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 25
45	45
46	46	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 26
47	47	Article – State Finance and Procurement 27
48	48	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)189. and 190. 28 2 SENATE BILL 660
49	49
50	50
51	51	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
52	52	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 2
53	53
54	54	BY adding to 3
55	55	Article – State Finance and Procurement 4
56	56	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)191. 5
57	57	Annotated Code of Maryland 6
58	58	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 7
59	59
60	60	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
61	61	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 9
62	62
63	63	Article – Election Law 10
64	64
65	65	TITLE 15.5. VOTING RIGHTS ACT – COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. 11
66	66
67	67	SUBTITLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 12
68	68
69	69	15.5–101. 13
70	70
71	71	(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 14
72	72	INDICATED UNLESS A D IFFERENT MEANING IS CLEARLY INTENDED FRO M THE 15
73	73	CONTEXT. 16
74	74
75	75	(B) (1) “ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ELECTION” MEANS A METHOD OF 17
76	76	ELECTING CANDIDATES TO THE GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMEN T OTHER 18
77	77	THAN AN AT–LARGE METHOD OF ELEC TION OR A DISTRICT –BASED METHOD OF 19
78	78	ELECTION. 20
79	79
80	80	(2) “ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ELECTION” INCLUDES 21
81	81	PROPORTIONAL RANKED –CHOICE VOTING , CUMULATIVE VOTING , AND LIMITED 22
82	82	VOTING. 23
83	83
84	84	(C) (1) “AT–LARGE METHOD O F ELECTION” MEANS A METHOD OF 24
85	85	ELECTING CANDIDATES TO THE GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMEN T IN 25
86	86	WHICH THE CANDIDATES ARE VOTED ON BY ALL VOTERS OF THE LOCAL 26
87	87	GOVERNMENT . 27
88	88
89	89	(2) “AT–LARGE METHOD OF ELEC TION” INCLUDES A METHOD OF 28
90	90	ELECTION THAT COMBIN ES AT–LARGE AND DISTRICT –BASED ELECTIONS . 29
91	91
92	92	(3) “AT–LARGE METHOD OF ELEC TION” DOES NOT INCLUDE AN 30
93	93	ALTERNATIVE METHOD O F ELECTION. 31
94	94	SENATE BILL 660 3
95	95
96	96
97	97	(D) “ATTORNEY GENERAL” MEANS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE 1
98	98	OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 2
99	99
100	100	(E) “COURT” MEANS THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. 3
101	101
102	102	(F) “DISPARITY” MEANS VARIANCE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY VALI DATED 4
103	103	METHODOLOGIES AND , WHERE RELEVANT , IS STATISTICALLY SIG NIFICANT. 5
104	104
105	105	(G) “DISTRICT–BASED METHOD OF ELEC TION” MEANS A METHOD OF 6
106	106	ELECTING CANDIDATES TO THE GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMEN T IN 7
107	107	WHICH, FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT S DIVIDED INTO DISTR ICTS, A CANDIDATE FOR 8
108	108	ANY DISTRICT IS REQU IRED TO RESIDE IN TH E DISTRICT AND CANDI DATES 9
109	109	REPRESENTING OR SEEK ING TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT ARE VOTED O N BY ONLY 10
110	110	THE VOTERS OF THE DI STRICT. 11
111	111
112	112	(H) “FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT” MEANS THE FEDERAL VOTING 12
113	113	RIGHTS ACT OF 1965. 13
114	114
115	115	(I) “GOVERNING BODY” MEANS: 14
116	116
117	117	(1) FOR BALTIMORE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY; 15
118	118
119	119	(2) FOR A CHARTER COUNTY , THE COUNTY COUNCIL ; 16
120	120
121	121	(3) FOR A CODE HOME RULE COUNTY, THE COUNTY COMMISSIO NERS; 17
122	122
123	123	(4) FOR A COMMISSION COU NTY, THE COUNTY COMMISSIO NERS; 18
124	124
125	125	(5) FOR A MUNICIPALITY , THE REPRESENTATIVE B ODY PROVIDED 19
126	126	UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CHARTER; AND 20
127	127
128	128	(6) FOR A COUNTY BOARD O F EDUCATION , THE ELECTED VOTING 21
129	129	MEMBERS OF T HE COUNTY BOARD OF E DUCATION. 22
130	130
131	131	(J) “LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT” MEANS THAT AN INDIVI DUAL SPEAKS, 23
132	132	READS, OR UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH LESS THAN “VERY WELL” AS REPORTED IN U.S. 24
133	133	CENSUS BUREAU DATA OR DATA O F COMPARABLE QUALITY COLLECTED BY A 25
134	134	PUBLIC OFFICE. 26
135	135
136	136	(K) “LOCAL GOVERNMENT ” MEANS: 27
137	137
138	138	(1) A MUNICIPALITY OR CO UNTY, AS THOSE TERMS ARE D EFINED IN § 28
139	139	1–101 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; OR 29 4 SENATE BILL 660
140	140
141	141
142	142
143	143	(2) A COUNTY BOARD OF ED UCATION, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE 1
144	144	EDUCATION ARTICLE. 2
145	145
146	146	(L) (1) “METHOD OF ELECTION ” MEANS A METHOD BY WH ICH 3
147	147	CANDIDATES ARE ELECT ED TO THE GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVE RNMENT. 4
148	148
149	149	(2) “METHOD OF ELECTION ” INCLUDES: 5
150	150
151	151	(I) AN AT–LARGE METHOD OF ELEC TION; 6
152	152
153	153	(II) A DISTRICT–BASED METHOD OF ELEC TION, INCLUDING THE 7
154	154	CONFIGURATION OF ANY DIST RICTS USED TO ELECT CANDIDATES TO THE 8
155	155	GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMEN T; OR 9
156	156
157	157	(III) AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ELECTION. 10
158	158
159	159	(M) “PROTECTED CLASS ” MEANS A CLASS OF CIT IZENS WHO ARE MEMBER S 11
160	160	OF A RACE , COLOR, OR LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUP, INCLUDING A CLASS 12
161	161	COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF TW O OR MORE MINORITY G ROUPS, AS REFERENCED IN 13
162	162	THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT. 14
163	163
164	164	(N) “RACIALLY POLARIZED VO TING” MEANS VOTING IN WHIC H THERE IS A 15
165	165	DIVERGENCE BETWEEN T HE CANDIDATE OR ELEC TORAL CHOICE PREFERR ED BY 16
166	166	PROTECTED CLASS VOTE RS AND THE CANDIDATE OR ELECTORAL CHOICE 17
167	167	PREFERRED BY OTHER V OTERS. 18
168	168
169	169	15.5–102. 19
170	170
171	171	(A) THE PROVISIONS OF THI S TITLE APPLY TO A MUN ICIPALITY IN THE 20
172	172	STATE IN WHICH THE MU NICIPAL OR CHARTER E LECTIONS ARE REGULAT ED BY THE 21
173	173	PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF THE STATE OR THE CHARTER OF THE MUNICIPALITY . 22
174	174
175	175	(B) STATUTES, RULES AND REGULATION S, AND LOCAL LAWS , TOWN 23
176	176	CHARTERS, OR ORDINANC ES RELATED TO THE RI GHT TO VOTE SHALL BE 24
177	177	CONSTRUED LIBERALLY IN FAVOR OF: 25
178	178
179	179	(1) PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO CAST A BALLOT ; 26
180	180
181	181	(2) ENSURING THAT ELIGIB LE VOTERS ARE NOT IM PAIRED IN 27
182	182	REGISTERING TO VOTE OR VOTING, INCLUDING HAVING THE IR VOTES COUNTED ; 28
183	183	AND 29
184	184	SENATE BILL 660 5
185	185
186	186
187	187	(3) ENSURING PROTECTED C LASS VOTERS EQUITABL E ACCESS TO 1
188	188	OPPORTUNITIES TO REG ISTER TO VOTE AND TO VOTE. 2
189	189
190	190	15.5–103. 3
191	191
192	192	TO THE EXTENT THAT A COURT IS AFFORDED DISCRETION IN ANY QUESTION , 4
193	193	INCLUDING QUESTIONS RELATED TO DISCOVERY , PROCEDURE , ADMISSIBILITY OF 5
194	194	EVIDENCE, AND REMEDIES , THE COURT SHALL EXERCISE THE DISCRETION IN FAVOR 6
195	195	OF: 7
196	196
197	197	(1) PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO CAST A BALLOT ; 8
198	198
199	199	(2) ENSURING THAT ELIG IBLE VOTERS ARE NOT IMPAIRED IN 9
200	200	REGISTERING TO VOTE OR VOTING, INCLUDING HAVING THE IR VOTES COUNTED ; 10
201	201	AND 11
202	202
203	203	(3) ENSURING PROTECTED C LASS VOTERS EQUITABL E ACCESS TO 12
204	204	OPPORTUNITIES TO REG ISTER TO VOTE AND TO VOTE. 13
205	205
206	206	15.5–104. 14
207	207
208	208	IF ANY PROVISION OF T HIS TITLE OR ITS APPLICATION T O ANY PERSON, LOCAL 15
209	209	GOVERNMENT , OR CIRCUMSTANCE IS H ELD TO BE INVALID BY A COURT OF 16
210	210	COMPETENT JURISDICTI ON, THE INVALIDITY DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER PRO VISIONS 17
211	211	OR APPLICATIONS OF T HIS TITLE THAT CAN B E GIVEN EFFECT WITHO UT THE 18
212	212	INVALID PROVI SION OR APPLICATION , AND TO THIS END , THE PROVISIONS OF TH IS 19
213	213	TITLE ARE SEVERABLE . 20
214	214
215	215	SUBTITLE 2. VOTER DISCRIMINATION . 21
216	216
217	217	15.5–201. 22
218	218
219	219	(A) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR ENTITY RESPONSIBL E FOR ELECTION 23
220	220	ADMINISTRATION MAY NOT DENY OR IMPAIR THE RIGHT TO VOTE OF PROTECTED 24
221	221	CLASS MEMBERS THROUG H ANY: 25
222	222
223	223	(1) QUALIFICATION FOR EL IGIBILITY TO BE A VO TER OR OTHER 26
224	224	PREREQUISITE TO VOTI NG; 27
225	225
226	226	(2) ORDINANCE, REGULATION , OR OTHER LAW REGARDI NG THE 28
227	227	ADMINISTRATION OF EL ECTIONS, OR ANY STANDARD , PRACTICE, PROCEDURE , OR 29
228	228	POLICY; OR 30
229	229	6 SENATE BILL 660
230	230
231	231
232	232	(3) ACTION OR INACTION . 1
233	233
234	234	(B) THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS BY A LOCAL GOVERNMEN T SHALL 2
235	235	CONSTITUTE A VIOLATI ON OF SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION: 3
236	236
237	237	(1) IMPLEMENTATION , ENFORCEMENT , ENACTMENT , OR USE OF A 4
238	238	QUALIFICATION FOR EL IGIBILITY TO BE A VO TER OR OTHER PREREQU ISITE TO 5
239	239	VOTING, OR AN ORDINANCE , A REGULATION , OR ANOTHER LAW REGARDING THE 6
240	240	ADMINISTRATION OF EL ECTIONS, OR ANY STANDARD , PRACTICE, PROCEDURE , OR 7
241	241	POLICY THAT: 8
242	242
243	243	(I) RESULTS, WILL RESULT, OR IS INTENDED TO RE SULT IN ANY 9
244	244	DISPARITY THAT IS NOT DE MINIM IS AND IS DEMONSTRATE D BY VALIDATED 10
245	245	METHODOLOGIES , OR REDUCTION IN VOTE R PARTICIPATION , ACCESS TO VOTING 11
246	246	OPPORTUNITIES , OR ABILITY TO PARTIC IPATE IN THE POLITIC AL PROCESS AMONG 12
247	247	PROTECTED CLASS M EMBERS IN A JURISDIC TION; OR 13
248	248
249	249	(II) BASED ON THE TOTALIT Y OF THE CIRCUMSTANC ES, 14
250	250	RESULTS IN ANY IMPAI RMENT OF THE OPPORTU NITY OR ABILITY OF P ROTECTED 15
251	251	CLASS MEMBERS TO PAR TICIPATE IN THE POLI TICAL PROCESS AND EL ECT 16
252	252	CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE OR OTHERWISE INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF 17
253	253	ELECTIONS; OR 18
254	254
255	255	(2) IMPLEMENTATION , ENFORCEMENT , ENACTMENT , OR USE OF A 19
256	256	QUALIFICATION FOR EL IGIBILITY TO BE A VO TER OR OTHER PREREQU ISITE TO 20
257	257	VOTING, OR AN ORDINANCE , A REGULATION , OR ANOTHER LAW REGARDING THE 21
258	258	ADMINISTRATION OF EL ECTIONS, OR ANY STANDARD , PRACTICE, PROCEDURE , OR 22
259	259	POLICY THAT HAS THE PURPOSE OF, OR WILL HAVE THE EFF ECT OF, IMPAIRING THE 23
260	260	ABILITY OF ANY PROTE CTED CLASS VOTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE E LECTORAL 24
261	261	PROCESS, NOMINATE, OR ELECT THE PREFERR ED CANDIDATES OF CHO ICE OF THE 25
262	262	PROTECTED CLASS VOTE R. 26
263	263
264	264	15.5–202. 27
265	265
266	266	(A) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY NOT EMPLOY ANY METHO D OF ELECTION 28
267	267	OR CAUSE AN ANNEXATI ON, AN INCORPORATION , A DISSOLUTION, A 29
268	268	CONSOLIDATION , OR A DIVISION OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS THE EFFECT 30
269	269	OF IMPAIRING THE EQUAL ABILITY OF PROTECTED CLASS MEMBERS TO 31
270	270	PARTICIPATE IN THE P OLITICAL PROCESS AND ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR 32
271	271	CHOICE AS A RESULT O F DILUTING THE VOTE OF THE PROTECTED CLA SS MEMBERS. 33
272	272
273	273	(B) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT VIO LATES SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 34
274	274	WHEN: 35 SENATE BILL 660 7
275	275
276	276
277	277
278	278	(1) (I) ELECTIONS IN THE LOC AL GOVERNMENT EXHIBI T RACIALLY 1
279	279	POLARIZED VOTING ; OR 2
280	280
281	281	(II) BASED ON THE TOTALIT Y OF THE CIRCUMSTANC ES, THE 3
282	282	OPPORTUNITY OR ABILI TY OF PROTECTED CLAS S MEMBERS TO NOMINAT E OR ELECT 4
283	283	CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE IS IMPAIRED ; AND 5
284	284
285	285	(2) ONE OR MORE NEW METHO DS OF ELECTION OR MODIF ICATION TO 6
286	286	THE EXISTING METHOD OF ELECTION EXIST TH AT THE COURT COULD ORDER IN 7
287	287	ACCORDANCE WITH § 15.5–204 OF THIS SUBTITLE THAT WOULD LIKELY MITIGATE 8
288	288	THE IMPAIRMENT OF THE EQ UAL OPPORTUNITY OF P ROTECTED CLASS MEMBERS TO 9
289	289	NOMINATE OR ELECT CA NDIDATES OF THEIR CH OICE. 10
290	290
291	291	(C) IT IS NOT NECESSARY T O SHOW THAT MEMBERS OF A PROTECTED CLASS 11
292	292	COMPRISE A MAJORITY IN ANY OF THE PROPOS ED DISTRICTS IF A NEW METHOD OF 12
293	293	ELECTION OR MODIFICA TION TO THE EXISTING METHOD OF ELECTION S DESCRIBED 13
294	294	UNDER PARAGRAPH (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION IS A NEW DISTRICT–BASED PLAN THAT 14
295	295	PROVIDES MEMBERS OF A PROTECTED CLASS WI TH ONE OR MORE REASO NABLY 15
296	296	CONFIGURED DISTRICTS IN WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORT UNITY OR 16
297	297	ABILITY TO NOMINATE OR ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE . 17
298	298
299	299	(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUB SECTION, TO 18
300	300	DETERMINE WHETHER RA CIALLY POLARIZED VOT ING BY PROTECTED CLA SS 19
301	301	VOTERS IN A LOCAL GO VERNMENT ELECTION OC CURS, THE COURT SHALL: 20
302	302
303	303	(I) CONSIDER ELECTIONS H ELD BEFORE THE FILIN G OF AN 21
304	304	ACTION AS MORE PROBA TIVE THAN ELECTIONS CONDUCTED AFTER THE FILING; 22
305	305
306	306	(II) CONSIDER EVIDENCE CO NCERNING ELECTIONS F OR ANY 23
307	307	OFFICE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT , INCLUDING EXECUTIVE , LEGISLATIVE, 24
308	308	JUDICIAL, AND OTHER OFFICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT , AS MORE PROBATIVE 25
309	309	THAN EVIDENCE CONCER NING ELECTIONS FOR O THER OFFICES; 26
310	310
311	311	(III) AFFORD PROBATIVE VAL UE TO EVIDENCE CONCE RNING 27
312	312	ELECTIONS FOR OFFICE S IN THE LOCAL GOVER NMENT OTHER THAN THO SE 28
313	313	IDENTIFIED IN ITEM (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH ; 29
314	314
315	315	(IV) CONSIDER STATISTICAL EVIDENCE AS MORE PRO BATIVE 30
316	316	THAN NONSTATISTICAL EVIDENCE, BUT STILL AFFORD PROBATI VE VALUE TO 31
317	317	NONSTATISTICAL EVIDE NCE; 32
318	318
319	319	(V) CONSIDER STATISTICAL EVIDENCE BASED ON EL ECTION 33 8 SENATE BILL 660
320	320
321	321
322	322	DATA AS MORE PROBATI VE THAN STATISTICAL EVIDENCE BASED ON SU RVEY DATA, 1
323	323	BUT STILL AFFORD PRO BATIVE VALUE TO EVID ENCE BASED ON SURVEY DATA; AND 2
324	324
325	325	(VI) IN THE CASE OF CLAIM S BROUGHT ON BEHALF OF TWO OR 3
326	326	MORE PROTECTED CLASS ES THAT ARE POLITICA LLY COHESIVE WITHIN THE 4
327	327	ELECTION DISTRICT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT , COMBINE VOTERS OF TH E 5
328	328	PROTECTED CLASSES TO DETERMINE WHETHER VO TING BY MEMBERS OF T HE 6
329	329	COMBINED PROTECTED CLASSE S IS POLARIZED FROM OTHER VOTERS AND WIT HOUT 7
330	330	REQUIRING EVIDENCE T HAT EACH PROTECTED C LASS IS SEPARATELY P OLARIZED 8
331	331	FROM OTHER VOTERS . 9
332	332
333	333	(2) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R RACIALLY POLARIZED VOTING BY 10
334	334	PROTECTED CLASS VOTE RS IN A LOCAL GOVERN MENT ELECTION OCCURS , THE 11
335	335	COURT MAY NOT: 12
336	336
337	337	(I) REQUIRE EVIDENCE CON CERNING THE INTENT O F VOTERS, 13
338	338	ELECTED OFFICIALS , OR THE LOCAL GOVERNM ENT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST 14
339	339	PROTECTED CLASS VOTE RS; 15
340	340
341	341	(II) REQUIRE EVIDENCE OF EXPLANATIONS FOR VOT ING 16
342	342	PATTERNS AND ELE CTION OUTCOMES TO PR OVE THE EXISTENCE OF RACIALLY 17
343	343	POLARIZED VOTING , INCLUDING PARTISANSH IP; 18
344	344
345	345	(III) CONSIDER EVIDENCE TH AT SUBGROUPS OF PROT ECTED 19
346	346	CLASS ELECTORS HAVE DIFFERENT VOTING PAT TERNS; 20
347	347
348	348	(IV) CONSIDER EVIDENCE CO NCERNING WHETHER PRO TECTED 21
349	349	CLASS VOTERS ARE GEOGRAPHI CALLY COMPACT OR CON CENTRATED, BUT MAY USE 22
350	350	THE EVIDENCE TO APPR OPRIATELY REMEDY A V IOLATION UNDER THIS SECTION; OR 23
351	351
352	352	(V) CONSIDER EVIDENCE CO NCERNING PROJECTED C HANGES 24
353	353	IN POPULATION OR DEM OGRAPHICS, BUT MAY USE THE EVID ENCE TO 25
354	354	APPROPRIATELY REMEDY A VIO LATION UNDER THIS SE CTION. 26
355	355
356	356	15.5–203. 27
357	357
358	358	(A) (1) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R, BASED ON THE TOTALIT Y OF THE 28
359	359	CIRCUMSTANCES , A VIOLATION OF § 15.5–201 OR § 15.5–202 OF THIS SUBTITLE HAS 29
360	360	OCCURRED WITH RESPEC T TO A PROTECTED CLA SS, THE COURT MAY CONSIDER THE 30
361	361	FOLLOWING FACTORS : 31
362	362
363	363	(I) THE HISTORY OF DISCR IMINATION AFFECTING MEMBERS 32
364	364	OF A PROTECTED CLASS ; 33 SENATE BILL 660 9
365	365
366	366
367	367
368	368	(II) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 1
369	369	EXTENT TO WHICH PROT ECTED CLASS VOTERS H AVE BEEN ELECTED TO OFFICE; 2
370	370
371	371	(III) THE USE OF ANY QUALIFICA TION FOR ELIGIBILITY TO BE A 3
372	372	VOTER OR OTHER PRERE QUISITE TO VOTING , OR ANY STATUTE , ORDINANCE, 4
373	373	REGULATION , OR OTHER LAW REGARDI NG THE ADMINISTRATIO N OF ELECTIONS, OR 5
374	374	ANY RELATED STANDARD , PRACTICE, PROCEDURE , OR POLICY BY THE LOC AL 6
375	375	GOVERNMENT THAT MAY ENHA NCE THE DILUTIVE EFF ECTS OF A METHOD OF 7
376	376	ELECTION; 8
377	377
378	378	(IV) THE EXTENT TO WHICH CAND IDATES WHO ARE MEMBE RS OF 9
379	379	THE PROTECTED CLASS HAVE FACED BARRIERS WITH RESPECT TO BALL OT ACCESS, 10
380	380	FINANCIAL SUPPORT , OR OTHER SUPPORT FOR AN ELECTION; 11
381	381
382	382	(V) THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROTECTED CLASS MEMBERS IN 12
383	383	THE STATE VOTE AT LOWER R ATES THAN OTHER VOTE RS IN THE STATE, AS 13
384	384	APPLICABLE; 14
385	385
386	386	(VI) THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROTECTED CLASS INDI VIDUALS 15
387	387	BEAR THE EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION , PUBLIC OR PRIVATE , IN AREAS SUCH A S 16
388	388	EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT , HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE , HOUSING, 17
389	389	TRANSPORTATION , LAND USE, OR ENVIRONMENTAL PRO TECTION; 18
390	390
391	391	(VII) THE USE OF OVERT OR SUBTLE RACIAL APPEAL S IN 19
392	392	POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS , BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, OR SURROUNDING ADOPT ION 20
393	393	OR MAINTENANCE OF TH E CHALLENGED PRACTIC E; 21
394	394
395	395	(VIII) THE EXTENT TO WHICH CANDIDATES FACE HOST ILITY OR 22
396	396	BARRIERS ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN A PROTECTED CLASS WHILE 23
397	397	CAMPAIGNING ; 24
398	398
399	399	(IX) A LACK OF RESPONSIVE NESS BY ELECTED OF FICIALS TO 25
400	400	THE PARTICULARIZED N EEDS OF PROTECTED CL ASS INDIVIDUALS , INCLUDING A 26
401	401	LACK OF CONCERN FOR OR RESPONSIVENESS TO THE REQUESTS AND PRO POSALS 27
402	402	OF THE GROUP , WITHOUT CONSIDERING COMPLIANCE WITH A CO URT ORDER AS 28
403	403	EVIDENCE OF RESPONSI VENESS ON THE PART O F THE JURISDICTION ; 29
404	404
405	405	(X) WHETHER THE PARTICUL AR METHOD OF ELECTIO N, 30
406	406	ORDINANCE, REGULATION , OR OTHER LAW , OR RELATED STANDARD , PRACTICE, 31
407	407	PROCEDURE , OR POLICY WAS DESIGN ED TO ADVANCE AND MA TERIALLY ADVANCES 32
408	408	A VALID AND SUBSTANT IATED STATE INTEREST; AND 33
409	409	10 SENATE BILL 660
410	410
411	411
412	412	(XI) OTHER FACTORS AS THE COURT MAY DETERMINE T O BE 1
413	413	RELEVANT. 2
414	414
415	415	(2) (I) A FACTOR IDENTIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3
416	416	SUBSECTION MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED DISPOS ITIVE OR NECESSARY T O ESTABLISH 4
417	417	THE EXISTENCE OF A V IOLATION. 5
418	418
419	419	(II) NO NUMBER OR COMBINAT ION OF FACTORS IDENTIFIE D IN 6
420	420	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION M AY BE REQUIRED TO ES TABLISH THE 7
421	421	EXISTENCE OF A VIOLA TION. 8
422	422
423	423	(III) THE ABSENCE OF EVIDEN CE AS TO ANY FACTOR IDENTIFIED 9
424	424	IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT PRECLUDE A F INDING OF 10
425	425	LIABILITY. 11
426	426
427	427	(3) FOR EACH FACTOR IDENT IFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 12
428	428	SUBSECTION, A FACTOR SHALL BE : 13
429	429
430	430	(I) AFFORDED THE MOST PR OBATIVE VALUE IF IT RELATES TO 14
431	431	THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION ; AND 15
432	432
433	433	(II) AFFORDED PROBATIVE V ALUE IF THE FACTOR R ELATES TO 16
434	434	THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION IN WHICH THE LOCAL G OVERNMENT IS LOCATED OR THE 17
435	435	STATE AS A WHOLE . 18
436	436
437	437	(B) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R A VIOLATION OF THI S SUBTITLE HAS 19
438	438	OCCURRED, THE COURT MAY NOT CONSIDE R: 20
439	439
440	440	(1) THE NUMBER OF PROTEC TED CLASS MEMBERS UN AFFECTED BY 21
441	441	THE CHALLE NGED QUALIFICATION , PREREQUISITE , STANDARD, PRACTICE, OR 22
442	442	PROCEDURE ; 23
443	443
444	444	(2) THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE CHALLENGED QUALI FICATION, 24
445	445	PREREQUISITE , STANDARD, PRACTICE, OR PROCEDURE HAS A L ONG PEDIGREE OR 25
446	446	WAS IN WIDESPREAD US E AT SOME EARLIER DA TE; 26
447	447
448	448	(3) THE USE OF AN IDENTICAL OR SIMI LAR QUALIFICATION , 27
449	449	PREREQUISITE , STANDARD, PRACTICE, OR PROCEDURE IN OTHE R STATES OR 28
450	450	JURISDICTIONS; 29
451	451
452	452	(4) THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER FORMS OF VOTIN G UNIMPACTED BY 30
453	453	THE CHALLENGED QUALI FICATION, PREREQUISITE , STANDARD, PRACTICE, OR 31
454	454	PROCEDURE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORATE , INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE 32 SENATE BILL 660 11
455	455
456	456
457	457	PROTECTED CLASS , UNLESS THE JURISDICT ION IS SIMULTANEOUSL Y EXPANDING 1
458	458	THE OTHER PRACTICES TO ELIMINATE ANY DIS PROPORTIONATE BURDEN IMPOSED 2
459	459	BY THE CHALLENGED QU ALIFICATION, PREREQUISITE , STANDARD, PRACTICE, OR 3
460	460	PROCEDURE ; AND 4
461	461
462	462	(5) UNSUBSTANTIATED DEFE NSES THAT THE QUALIF ICATION, 5
463	463	PREREQUISITE , STANDARD, PRACTICE, OR PROCEDURE IS NECE SSARY TO ADDRESS 6
464	464	CRIMINAL ACTIVITY . 7
465	465
466	466	15.5–204. 8
467	467
468	468	(A) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION U NDER THIS SUBTITLE 9
469	469	IN THE COURT: 10
470	470
471	471	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 11
472	472
473	473	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 12
474	474	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 13
475	475
476	476	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 14
477	477	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; 15
478	478
479	479	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 16
480	480	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; OR 17
481	481
482	482	(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 18
483	483
484	484	(B) (1) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER LAW, IF THE COURT FINDS A 19
485	485	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE, THE COURT SHALL ORDER APP ROPRIATE REMEDIES 20
486	486	THAT ARE TAILORED TO ADDRESS THE VIOLATIO N IN THE LOCAL GOVER NMENT AND 21
487	487	ENSURE THAT PROTECTE D CLASS VOTERS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FULLY 22
488	488	PARTICIPATE IN THE E LECTORAL PROCESS , WHICH MAY INCLUDE : 23
489	489
490	490	(I) A DISTRICT–BASED METHOD OF ELEC TION; 24
491	491
492	492	(II) AN ALTERNATIVE METHO D OF ELECTION; 25
493	493
494	494	(III) NEW OR REVISED DISTR ICTING PLANS; 26
495	495
496	496	(IV) ELIMINATION OF STAGG ERED ELECTIONS SO TH AT ALL 27
497	497	MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY ARE ELECTED AT THE S AME TIME; 28
498	498
499	499	(V) REASONABLY INCREASIN G THE SIZE OF THE GOVERNING 29 12 SENATE BILL 660
500	500
501	501
502	502	BODY; 1
503	503
504	504	(VI) ADDITIONAL VOTING HO URS OR DAYS; 2
505	505
506	506	(VII) ADDITIONAL POLLING L OCATIONS; 3
507	507
508	508	(VIII) ADDITIONAL MEANS OF VOTING, SUCH AS VOTING BY MA IL 4
509	509	OR ADDITIONAL OPPORT UNITIES TO RETURN BA LLOTS; 5
510	510
511	511	(IX) ORDERING OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS; 6
512	512
513	513	(X) REQUIRING EXPANDED OPPORTUNITI ES FOR THE 7
514	514	ADMISSION OF VOTERS ; 8
515	515
516	516	(XI) REQUIRING ADDITIONAL VOTER EDUCATION ; 9
517	517
518	518	(XII) THE RESTORATION OR A DDITION OF PERSONS T O A VOTER 10
519	519	REGISTRY; OR 11
520	520
521	521	(XIII) PREVENTING THE REORGANIZATION , ANNEXATION, 12
522	522	INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, CONSOLIDATION, OR DIVISION OF A LOC AL 13
523	523	GOVERNMENT . 14
524	524
525	525	(2) (I) THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER REMEDIES PROPOSED BY 15
526	526	ANY PARTIES TO AN AC TION OR BY INTERESTED PAR TIES FILED UNDER THIS 16
527	527	SECTION. 17
528	528
529	529	(II) THE COURT MAY NOT GIVE DE FERENCE OR PRIORITY TO A 18
530	530	PROPOSED REMEDY BECA USE IT IS THE REMEDY PROPOSED BY THE LOCA L 19
531	531	GOVERNMENT . 20
532	532
533	533	(III) THE COURT SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO REQUIRE A L OCAL 21
534	534	GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEM ENT REMEDIES THAT AR E INCONSISTENT WITH ANY 22
535	535	OTHER PROVISION OF STATE OR LOCAL LAW WH ERE THE INCONSISTENT PROVISION 23
536	536	OF LAW WOULD OTHERWI SE PRECLUDE THE COURT FROM ORDERING A N 24
537	537	APPROPRIATE REMEDY I N THE MATTER . 25
538	538
539	539	15.5–205. 26
540	540
541	541	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS SECT ION, BEFORE 27
542	542	FILING AN ACTION AGA INST A LOCAL GOVERNMENT U NDER THIS SUBTITLE, A PARTY 28
543	543	DESCRIBED IN § 15.5–204(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL, 29
544	544	RETURN RECEIPT REQUE STED, A NOTIFICATION LETTE R TO THE LOCAL 30 SENATE BILL 660 13
545	545
546	546
547	547	GOVERNMENT : 1
548	548
549	549	(I) ASSERTING THAT THE L OCAL GOVERNMENT MAY BE IN 2
550	550	VIOLATION OF THE PROVISION S OF THIS TITLE; 3
551	551
552	552	(II) IDENTIFYING THE POTE NTIAL VIOLATIONS ; 4
553	553
554	554	(III) IDENTIFYING THE AFFE CTED PROTECTED CLASS ; AND 5
555	555
556	556	(IV) IDENTIFYING THE TYPE OF REMEDY THAT THE P ARTY 6
557	557	BELIEVES WILL ADDRES S THE ALLEGED VIOLAT IONS. 7
558	558
559	559	(2) (I) THE PARTY MAY NOT FIL E AN ACTION UNDER TH IS SECTION 8
560	560	WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER SENDING A NOTIFICATION LETTER TO THE LOCAL 9
561	561	GOVERNMENT . 10
562	562
563	563	(II) THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL WORK IN GOOD F AITH 11
564	564	WITH THE PARTY TO IM PLEMENT A REMEDY THA T CURES THE ALLEGED 12
565	565	VIOLATIONS. 13
566	566
567	567	(III) WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER A NOTIFIC ATION LETTER IS SENT TO 14
568	568	A LOCAL GOVERNMENT U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 15
569	569	GOVERNING BODY OF THE LOCAL GO VERNMENT MAY PASS A RESOLUTION: 16
570	570
571	571	1. AFFIRMING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ’S INTENTION 17
572	572	TO ENACT AND IMPL EMENT A REMEDY FOR A POTENTIAL VIOLATION OF THE 18
573	573	PROVISIONS OF THIS T ITLE; 19
574	574
575	575	2. ESTABLISHING SPECIFI C MEASURES THAT THE LOCAL 20
576	576	GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE TO FACILITATE APPROV AL AND IMPLEMENTATIO N OF A 21
577	577	REMEDY; AND 22
578	578
579	579	3. PROVIDING A SCHEDULE FOR THE ENACTMENT AND 23
580	580	IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E REMEDY. 24
581	581
582	582	(3) A PARTY DESCRIBED UNDE R § 15.5–204(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY 25
583	583	NOT FILE AN ACTION U NDER THIS SUBTITLE UNTIL 90 DAYS AFTER THE PASSA GE OF 26
584	584	ANY RESOLUTION BY TH E GOVERNING BODY UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 27
585	585	SUBSECTION. 28
586	586
587	587	(4) (I) IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT I S A COVERED JURISDIC TION OR, 29
588	588	UNDER THE LAWS OF TH IS STATE OR ANY CODE HOM E RULE OR CHARTER CO UNTY 30
589	589	ORDINANCE, THE GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMEN T LACKS AUTHORITY 31 14 SENATE BILL 660
590	590
591	591
592	592	TO ENACT OR IMPLEMEN T A REMEDY IDENTIFIE D IN A RESOLUTION UN DER 1
593	593	PARAGRAPH (2)(III) OF THIS SUBSECTION W ITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE PASSA GE OF 2
594	594	THE RESOLUTION , THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNM ENT MAY 3
595	595	APPROVE A PROPOS ED REMEDY UNDER PARA GRAPH (2)(III) OF THIS SUBSECTION 4
596	596	THAT COMPLIES WITH T HE PROVISIONS OF THI S TITLE AND SHALL SU BMIT THE 5
597	597	PROPOSED REMEDY TO T HE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 6
598	598
599	599	(II) WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER SUBMISSIO N OF A PROPOSED 7
600	600	REMEDY BY A LOCAL GO VERNMENT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER 8
601	601	SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL 9
602	602	APPROVE THE PROPOSED REMEDY IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCLUDES THA T: 10
603	603
604	604	1. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF 11
605	605	THE PROVISIONS OF TH IS TITLE; 12
606	606
607	607	2. THE PROPOSE D REMEDY WOULD ADDRE SS A 13
608	608	POTENTIAL VIOLATION ; 14
609	609
610	610	3. THE PROPOSED REMEDY WILL NOT IMPAIR THE 15
611	611	ABILITY OF PROTECTED CLASS VOTERS TO PART ICIPATE IN THE POLIT ICAL 16
612	612	PROCESS AND ELECT TH EIR PREFERRED CANDID ATES TO OFFICE; AND 17
613	613
614	614	4. IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E PROPOSED REMEDY IS 18
615	615	FEASIBLE. 19
616	616
617	617	(III) 1. IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVES THE 20
618	618	PROPOSED REMEDY , THE PROPOSED REMEDY MAY BE ENACTED BY THE LOCAL 21
619	619	GOVERNMENT . 22
620	620
621	621	2. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S APPROVAL OF A REME DY 23
622	622	DOES NOT BAR AN ACTI ON TO CHALLENGE THE REMEDY. 24
623	623
624	624	(IV) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REJECTS THE PROPOSED 25
625	625	REMEDY: 26
626	626
627	627	1. THE PROPOSED REMEDY MAY NOT BE ENACTED O R 27
628	628	IMPLEMENTED ; 28
629	629
630	630	2. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL SPECIFY THE 29
631	631	OBJECTIONS TO THE PR OPOSED REMEDY AND EX PLAIN THE BASIS FOR THE DENIAL; 30
632	632	AND 31
633	633
634	634	3. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY RECOMMEND AND 32 SENATE BILL 660 15
635	635
636	636
637	637	APPROVE ANOTHER PROPOSED REM EDY. 1
638	638
639	639	(V) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT APPROVE THE 2
640	640	PROPOSED REMEDY WITH IN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SUBMI SSION OF THE PROPOSE D 3
641	641	REMEDY BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT , THE PROPOSED REMEDY MAY NOT BE 4
642	642	ENACTED OR IMPLEMENTE D. 5
643	643
644	644	(B) A PARTY DESCRIBED IN § 15.5–204(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY FILE AN 6
645	645	ACTION UNDER THIS SU BTITLE WITHOUT FIRST PROVIDING THE NOTICE REQUIRED 7
646	646	UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION IF: 8
647	647
648	648	(1) THE ACTION IS COMMEN CED WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE 9
649	649	ENACTMENT OF THE CHA LLENGED METHOD OF EL ECTION, STANDARD, PRACTICE, 10
650	650	OR POLICY; 11
651	651
652	652	(2) ANOTHER PARTY DESCRI BED IN § 15.5–204(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE 12
653	653	HAS SUBMITTED NOTICE ALLEGING A SUBSTANTI ALLY SIMILAR VIOLATI ON; 13
654	654
655	655	(3) THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS ENACTED A REMEDY THAT WOULD 14
656	656	NOT REMEDY THE VIOLA TION ALLEGED IN A PA RTY’S PREVIOUS NOTICE ; OR 15
657	657
658	658	(4) RELIEF WOULD BE IMPO SSIBLE TO OBTAIN IF THE NOTICE UNDER 16
659	659	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION WAS REQUIRED . 17
660	660
661	661	(C) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY ADOPT REG ULATIONS TO CARRY OUT 18
662	662	THIS SUBTITLE, INCLUDING REGULATION S TO PROVIDE FOR NOTICE A ND COMMENT 19
663	663	PROCEDURES THAT LOCA L GOVERNMENTS ARE RE QUIRED TO FOLLOW BEFORE 20
664	664	IMPLEMENTING REMEDIE S UNDER THIS SUBTITL E. 21
665	665
666	666	15.5–206. 22
667	667
668	668	IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENACTS OR IMPLEMENTS A REMEDY, THE PARTY 23
669	669	THAT SENT A NOTIFICATION LETTE R UNDER § 15.5–205(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL 24
670	670	BE ENTITLED TO REIMB URSEMENT BY THE LOCA L GOVERNMENT FOR REA SONABLE 25
671	671	COSTS ASSOCIATED WIT H PRODUCING AND SEND ING THE NOTIFICATION LETTER. 26
672	672
673	673	SUBTITLE 3. LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE. 27
674	674
675	675	15.5–301. 28
676	676
677	677	(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , THE STATE BOARD 29
678	678	SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER TH ERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AND SUBSTANTIAL NEED 30
679	679	FOR LANGUAGE –RELATED ASSISTANCE I N ONE OR MORE LANGUA GES OTHER THAN 31 16 SENATE BILL 660
680	680
681	681
682	682	ENGLISH IN A LOCAL GO VERNMENT EL ECTION. 1
683	683
684	684	(B) THE STATE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THAT A SIGNIFICANT A ND 2
685	685	SUBSTANTIAL NEED FOR LANGUAGE–RELATED ASSISTANCE E XISTS IN A LOCAL 3
686	686	GOVERNMENT ELECTION IF, BASED ON THE BEST AV AILABLE DATA , INCLUDING 4
687	687	INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU’S AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5
688	688	OR DATA OF COMPARABL E QUALITY COLLECTED BY A PUBLIC OFFICE : 6
689	689
690	690	(1) MORE THAN 2%, BUT IN NO INSTANCE F EWER THAN 100 7
691	691	INDIVIDUALS, OF THE CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATIO N OF THE LOCAL 8
692	692	GOVERNMENT : 9
693	693
694	694	(I) SPEAK A PARTICULAR L ANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH; 10
695	695
696	696	(II) DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS THEIR PRIM ARY LANGUAGE ; 11
697	697	AND 12
698	698
699	699	(III) ARE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT ; OR 13
700	700
701	701	(2) MORE THAN 4,000 INDIVIDUALS OF THE CITIZEN VOTING AGE 14
702	702	POPULATION OF THE LO CAL GOVERNMENT : 15
703	703
704	704	(I) SPEAK A PARTICULAR L ANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH; 16
705	705
706	706	(II) DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS THEIR PRIM ARY LANGUAGE ; 17
707	707	AND 18
708	708
709	709	(III) ARE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT . 19
710	710
711	711	15.5–302. 20
712	712
713	713	(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, AND EVERY 2 YEARS THEREAFTER , 21
714	714	THE STATE BOARD SHALL PUBLISH A ND MAINTAIN ON ITS W EBSITE A LIST OF: 22
715	715
716	716	(1) EACH LOCAL GOVERNMEN T ELECTION THAT REQU IRES 23
717	717	LANGUAGE–RELATED ASSISTANCE I N A LANGUAGE OTHER T HAN ENGLISH; AND 24
718	718
719	719	(2) THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE –RELATED ASSISTANCE T HAT IS 25
720	720	REQUIRED TO BE PROVI DED IN THE LOCAL GOV ERNMENT ELECTION . 26
721	721
722	722	(B) THE STATE BOARD SHALL DISTRIBUT E THIS LIST TO EACH LOCAL 27
723	723	GOVERNMENT IN TIME T O ALLOW LOCAL GOVERN MENTS TO PROVIDE 28
724	724	LANGUAGE–RELATED ASSISTANCE U NDER § 15.5–303 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 29 SENATE BILL 660 17
725	725
726	726
727	727
728	728	15.5–303. 1
729	729
730	730	(A) WHENEVER THE STATE BOARD DETERMINES THAT 2
731	731	LANGUAGE–RELATED ASSISTANCE S HALL BE PROVIDED IN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT 3
732	732	ELECTION UNDER THIS SECTION, THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMI NISTERING 4
733	733	THE ELECTION SHALL P ROVIDE COMPETENT ASS ISTANCE AND PHYSICAL AND 5
734	734	ONLINE VOTING MATERI ALS IN EACH DESIGNAT ED LANGUAGE UNDER § 15.5–301 OF 6
735	735	THIS SUBTITLE. 7
736	736
737	737	(B) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 8
738	738	FOR EACH DESIGNATED LANGUA GE UNDER § 15.5–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE 9
739	739	LANGUAGE–RELATED ASSISTANCE A ND MATERIALS SHALL I NCLUDE: 10
740	740
741	741	(I) REGISTRATION AND VOT ING NOTICES; 11
742	742
743	743	(II) ELECTION–RELATED FORMS AND IN STRUCTIONS; 12
744	744
745	745	(III) SIGNAGE INDICATING T HE AVAILABILIT Y OF TELEPHONE 13
746	746	INTERPRETATION SERVI CES, WHERE AVAILABLE; AND 14
747	747
748	748	(IV) BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS , AND OTHER MATERIALS OR 15
749	749	INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ELECTORAL PRO CESS. 16
750	750
751	751	(2) (I) IN THE CASE OF A LANG UAGE THAT IS ORAL OR UNWRITTEN, 17
752	752	THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY PROVIDE ONLY ORA L INSTRUCTIONS , ASSISTANCE, 18
753	753	OR OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ELEC TORAL PROCESS IN THE 19
754	754	APPLICABLE LANGUAGE . 20
755	755
756	756	(II) IN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHERE ASSISTANCE MU ST BE 21
757	757	PROVIDED IN MORE THA N TWO LANGUAGES , BALLOTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE 22
758	758	TRANSLATED INTO A LA NGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026. 23
759	759
760	760	(C) (1) MATERIALS PROVIDED IN A DESIGNATED LANGUAG E SHALL BE OF 24
761	761	AN EQUAL QUALITY TO THE CORRESPONDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE MATE RIALS. 25
762	762
763	763	(2) ALL TRANSLATIONS SHAL L CONVEY THE INTENT AND ESSENTIAL 26
764	764	MEANING OF THE ORIGI NAL TEXT OR COMMUNIC ATION AND MAY NOT SO LELY RELY 27
765	765	ON AUTOMATIC ELECTRON IC TRANSLATION SERVI CES. 28
766	766
767	767	(3) IN ADDITION TO THE OT HER REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION, 29
768	768	LANGUAGE–RELATED ASSISTANCE S HALL INCLUDE THE PRE SENCE OF BILINGUAL 30
769	769	POLL WORKERS WHERE A VAILABLE. 31 18 SENATE BILL 660
770	770
771	771
772	772
773	773	15.5–304. 1
774	774
775	775	THE STATE BOARD MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS THAT ESTABLISH FURTHER 2
776	776	CRITERIA FOR DETERMI NING WHETHER A SIGNIFICAN T AND SUBSTANTIAL NE ED 3
777	777	EXISTS FOR A LANGUAG E TO BE DESIGNATED U NDER § 15.5–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 4
778	778
779	779	15.5–305. 5
780	780
781	781	THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION U NDER THIS SUBTITLE IN 6
782	782	THE COURT: 7
783	783
784	784	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 8
785	785
786	786	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 9
787	787	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 10
788	788
789	789	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 11
790	790	VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; 12
791	791
792	792	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOU RCES IN ORDER 13
793	793	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; OR 14
794	794
795	795	(5) THE STATE BOARD. 15
796	796
797	797	SUBTITLE 4. PRECLEARANCE . 16
798	798
799	799	15.5–401. 17
800	800
801	801	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 18
802	802	INDICATED. 19
803	803
804	804	(B) “COVERED JURISDICTION ” MEANS ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT : 20
805	805
806	806	(1) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, HAS 21
807	807	BECOME SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER OR GOVER NMENT ENFORCEMENT AC TION 22
808	808	BASED ON A FINDING O F A VIOLATION OF THI S TITLE, THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS 23
809	809	ACT, THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, OR A VOTING–RELATED 24
810	810	VIOLATION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION; 25
811	811
812	812	(2) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, HAS 26
813	813	BECOME SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER OR GOVER NMENT ENFORCEMENT AC TION 27
814	814	BASED ON A FINDING O F A VIOLATION OF A FEDERAL OR STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LA W 28 SENATE BILL 660 19
815	815
816	816
817	817	OR THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION CONCERNI NG A PATTERN, 1
818	818	PRACTICE, OR POLICY THAT RESUL TED IN DISCRIMINATION AGAIN ST MEMBERS OF 2
819	819	A PROTECTED CLASS ; 3
820	820
821	821	(3) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, WAS 4
822	822	FOUND TO HAVE ENACTE D OR IMPLEMENTED A C OVERED POLICY WITHOU T 5
823	823	OBTAINING PRECLEARAN CE FOR THAT COVERED POLICY UNDER THIS SU BTITLE; 6
824	824
825	825	(4) WHERE THE TRAFFIC STOP RAT E, OR THE COMBINED 7
826	826	MISDEMEANOR AND FELO NY ARREST RATE OF ME MBERS OF ANY PROTECT ED CLASS 8
827	827	CONSISTING OF AT LEAST 10,000 CITIZENS OF VOTING A GE OR WHOSE MEMBERS 9
828	828	COMPRISE AT LEAST 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS OF THE CITIZEN VOTIN G AGE 10
829	829	POPULATION OF THE LO CAL GOVERNMENT , EXCEEDS THE PROPORTI ON THAT THE 11
830	830	PROTECTED CLASS CONS TITUTES OF THE CITIZ EN VOTING AGE POP ULATION OF THE 12
831	831	LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE BY AT LEAST 10% AT ANY POINT WITHIN THE 13
832	832	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G 10 YEARS; 14
833	833
834	834	(5) THAT CONTAINS AT LEAST 6,000 CITIZENS OF ANY PROTECTED 15
835	835	CLASS OF VOTING AGE , OR WHOSE MEMBERS COM PRISE AT LEAST 15% OF THE 16
836	836	CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATIO N OF THE LOCAL GOVER NMENT, HAS HAD AT LEAST 17
837	837	10 PERCENTAGE POINTS FEWER REGISTERED VOT ERS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF ANY 18
838	838	PROTECTED CLASS THAN THE PERCENTAGE OF THE REGISTERED CI TIZENS OF 19
839	839	VOTING AGE; OR 20
840	840
841	841	(6) WHERE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CITIZENS OF VOTING AGE WHO 21
842	842	ARE MEMBERS OF ANY P ROTECTED CLASS THAT PARTICIPATED IN ANY GENERAL 22
843	843	ELECTION FOR LOCAL O FFICE IS AT LEAST 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS LOWER THAN 23
844	844	THE PERCENTAGE OF AL L CITIZENS THAT PART ICIPATED IN THE GENE RAL 24
845	845	ELECTION. 25
846	846
847	847	(C) (1) “COVERED POLI CY” MEANS A NEW OR MODIF IED STANDARD , 26
848	848	PRACTICE, PROCEDURE , LAW, ORDINANCE, REGULATION , OR POLICY THAT A 27
849	849	COVERED JURISDICTION IS REQUIRED TO SUBMI T FOR PRECLEARANCE . 28
850	850
851	851	(2) “COVERED POLICY ” INCLUDES A NEW OR MO DIFIED LOCAL 29
852	852	GOVERNMENT QUALIFICA TION FOR REGISTRATION AS A VOTER, PREREQUISITE TO 30
853	853	VOTING, OR ANY OF THE FOLLOW ING ORDINANCES , REGULATIONS , STANDARDS, 31
854	854	PRACTICES, PROCEDURES , OR POLICIES CONCERNI NG:   32
855	855
856	856	(I) IF THE COVERED JURIS DICTION IS A MUNICIP ALITY: 33
857	857
858	858	1. THE METHOD OF ELECTI ON FOR THE GOVERNING 34
859	859	BODY; 35 20 SENATE BILL 660
860	860
861	861
862	862
863	863	2. DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 1
864	864
865	865	3. THE NUMBER OF SEAT S ON THE GOVERNING BODY; 2
866	866
867	867	4. ANNEXATION , INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, 3
868	868	CONSOLIDATION , OR DIVISION OF A MUN ICIPALITY; 4
869	869
870	870	5. THE TIMING OF MUNICI PAL ELECTIONS ; 5
871	871
872	872	6. VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS , INCLUDING THE 6
873	873	REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUA LS FROM A VOTER REGI STRATION LIST AND CANCELLATION 7
874	874	OR DENIAL OF VOTER R EGISTRATION; 8
875	875
876	876	7. VOTER CHALLENGE RS, WATCHERS, OR OBSERVERS ; 9
877	877
878	878	8. THE HOURS, LOCATIONS, OR NUMBER OF POLLING 10
879	879	PLACES, EARLY VOTING CENTERS, OR DROP BOX LOCATION S; 11
880	880
881	881	9. THE REORGANIZATION O F PRECINCTS; 12
882	882
883	883	10. THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOTING EQUIPMENT AND 13
884	884	STAFF, INCLUDING ELECTION J UDGES, TO POLLING PLACES AN D EARLY VOTING 14
885	885	CENTERS; OR 15
886	886
887	887	11. ANY ADDITIONAL SUBJE CT MATTER AS MAY BE 16
888	888	IDENTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY REGULATION ; AND 17
889	889
890	890	(II) IF THE COVERED JURIS DICTION IS A COUNTY OR COUNTY 18
891	891	BOARD OF EDUCATION : 19
892	892
893	893	1. THE METHOD OF ELECTI ON FOR THE GOVERNING 20
894	894	BODY OF THE COVERED JURISDICTION; 21
895	895
896	896	2. DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 22
897	897
898	898	3. THE NUMBER OF SEAT S ON THE GOVERNING BODY OF 23
899	899	THE COVERED JURISDIC TION; AND 24
900	900
901	901	4. ANY ADDITIONAL SUBJE CT MATTER AS MAY BE 25
902	902	IDENTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN REGULATION . 26
903	903
904	904	(D) “GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMEN T ACTION” MEANS A DENIAL OF 27 SENATE BILL 660 21
905	905
906	906
907	907	ADMINISTRATIVE OR JU DICIAL PRECLEARANCE BY THE FEDERAL OR STATE 1
908	908	GOVERNMENT , PENDING LITIGATION F ILED BY A FEDERAL OR STATE ENTITY, A 2
909	909	FINAL JUDGMENT OR AD JUDICATION, A CONSENT DECREE , OR A SIMILAR FORMAL 3
910	910	ACTION. 4
911	911
912	912	(E) “PRECLEARANCE ” MEANS THE REQUIREMEN T THAT A LOCAL 5
913	913	GOVERNMENT SUBMIT TH E PROPOSED ENACTMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF A 6
914	914	COVERED POLICY IN WR ITING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT FOR 7
915	915	APPROVAL OR DENIAL . 8
916	916
917	917	15.5–402. 9
918	918
919	919	(A) THE ENACTMENT OR IMPL EMENTATION OF A COVERED POLICY BY A 10
920	920	COVERED JURISDICTION IS SUBJECT TO PRECLE ARANCE BY: 11
921	921
922	922	(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UNDER § 15.5–404 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 12
923	923	OR 13
924	924
925	925	(2) THE COURT, UNDER § 15.5–406 OF THIS SUBTITLE.  14
926	926
927	927	(B) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT A COVERE D JURISDICTION MAY 15
928	928	SUBMIT A PROPOSED POLICY TO PRECLEARANCE IN THE SAME MANNER AS A 16
929	929	COVERED POLICY IS SUBMITTED BY A COVER ED JURISDICTION . 17
930	930
931	931	15.5–403. 18
932	932
933	933	(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, AND AT LEAST ANNUALL Y 19
934	934	THEREAFTER , THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL DETERMINE WHICH LOCAL 20
935	935	GOVERNMENTS ARE COVE RED JURISDICTIONS . 21
936	936
937	937	(B) A STATE AGENCY OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ENTITY S HALL TRANSMIT 22
938	938	ANY DATA OR INFORMAT ION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE REQUEST OF TH E 23
939	939	ATTORNEY GENERAL IN A USABLE FORMAT . 24
940	940
941	941	(C) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL: 25
942	942
943	943	(1) AS SOON AS PRACTICAB LE, PUBLISH AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF 26
944	944	LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TH AT ARE COVERED JURIS DICTIONS ON THE WEBSITE OF 27
945	945	THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; 28
946	946
947	947	(2) PROVIDE NOTICE TO EA CH LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS 29
948	948	DETERMINED TO BE A C OVERED JURISDICTION ON THE DETERMINATION BEING 30
949	949	MADE; 31 22 SENATE BILL 660
950	950
951	951
952	952
953	953	(3) PUBLISH AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF ALL PRECLE ARANCE 1
954	954	SUBMISSION S; AND 2
955	955
956	956	(4) PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNI TY FOR PUBLIC COMMEN T ON ALL 3
957	957	PRECLEARANCE SUBMISS IONS. 4
958	958
959	959	15.5–404. 5
960	960
961	961	(A) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY DENY PRECLEARANC E ONLY IF IT 6
962	962	DETERMINES THAT THE COVERED POLICY IS MO RE LIKELY THAN NOT T O: 7
963	963
964	964	(1) DIMINISH THE OPPORTUNITY OR A BILITY OF PROTECTED CLASS 8
965	965	MEMBERS WHO ARE THE BASIS FO R THE LOCAL GOVERNME NT’S PRECLEARANCE 9
966	966	COVERAGE STATUS UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TH E POLITICAL 10
967	967	PROCESS OR ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE; OR 11
968	968
969	969	(2) VIOLATE THIS TITLE . 12
970	970
971	971	(B) (1) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GRANTS PRECLEARANCE , THE 13
972	972	APPLICABLE COVERED J URISDICTION MAY ENAC T OR IMPLEMENT THE C OVERED 14
973	973	POLICY. 15
974	974
975	975	(2) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FAILS TO RESPOND WITHIN THE 16
976	976	REQUIRED TIME PERIOD UNDER § 15.5–405 OF THIS SUBTITLE, PRECLEARANCE FOR 17
977	977	THE COVERED POLICY S HALL BE DEEMED GRANTED AND THE APPL ICABLE 18
978	978	JURISDICTION MAY ENA CT OR IMPLEMENT THE COVERED POLICY . 19
979	979
980	980	(C) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL PROVIDE TO THE COVERED 20
981	981	JURISDICTION A WRITTEN EXPLANATIO N OF ITS DETERMINATI ONS UNDER THIS 21
982	982	SECTION. 22
983	983
984	984	(D) (1) A DENIAL OF PRECLEARAN CE UNDER THIS SECTIO N MAY BE 23
985	985	APPEALED ONLY BY THE COVERED JURISDICTION TO THE APPELLATE COURT OF 24
986	986	MARYLAND. 25
987	987
988	988	(2) A PARTY OTHER THAN THE COVER ED JURISDICTION MAY NOT 26
989	989	FILE AN ACTION TO AP PEAL A DENIAL OF PRE CLEARANCE OR INTERVENE IN AN 27
990	990	APPEAL ACTION BROUGHT BY TH E COVERED JURISDICTION. 28
991	991
992	992	15.5–405. 29
993	993
994	994	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION AND EXCEPT 30 SENATE BILL 660 23
995	995
996	996
997	997	AS PROVIDED IN SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE 1
998	998	RECEIPT OF A COVERED POLICY , THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 2
999	999
1000	1000	(I) REVIEW TH E COVERED POLICY , INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC 3
1001	1001	COMMENTS REGARDING T HE PUBLIC POLICY ; AND 4
1002	1002
1003	1003	(II) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DEN Y OR GRANT 5
1004	1004	PRECLEARANCE FOR THE COVERED POLICY .  6
1005	1005
1006	1006	(2) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVOKE AN EXTENSION OF UP TO 7
1007	1007	60 DAYS TO MAKE A DETER MINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 8
1008	1008
1009	1009	(B) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO A COVERED POLICY 9
1010	1010	REGARDING: 10
1011	1011
1012	1012	(I) CHANGES TO THE METHO D OF ELECTION FOR A GOVERNING 11
1013	1013	BODY; 12
1014	1014
1015	1015	(II) DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 13
1016	1016
1017	1017	(III) THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON A GOVERNING BODY ; OR 14
1018	1018
1019	1019	(IV) ANNEXATION , INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, 15
1020	1020	CONSOLIDATION , OR DIVISION OF A LOC AL GOVERNMENT . 16
1021	1021
1022	1022	(2) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND WITHIN 17
1023	1023	60 DAYS AFTER THE SUBMI SSION OF THE COVERED POLICY, THE ATTORNEY 18
1024	1024	GENERAL SHALL: 19
1025	1025
1026	1026	(I) REVIEW A COVERED POLICY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION 20
1027	1027	AND ANY PUBLIC COMMENT S REGARDING THE COVE RED POLICY; AND 21
1028	1028
1029	1029	(II) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT 22
1030	1030	PRECLEARANCE FOR THE COVERED POLICY . 23
1031	1031
1032	1032	(3) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVOKE UP TO TWO EXTENSION S 24
1033	1033	OF UP TO 90 DAYS TO MAKE A DETER MINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 25
1034	1034
1035	1035	15.5–406. 26
1036	1036
1037	1037	(A) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRECLEARANCE THROUGH TH E ATTORNEY 27
1038	1038	GENERAL UNDER § 15.5–404 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A COVERED JURISDICTI ON MAY 28
1039	1039	SUBMIT A COVERED POL ICY TO THE COURT FOR PRECLEARANC E. 29 24 SENATE BILL 660
1040	1040
1041	1041
1042	1042
1043	1043	(B) TO HAVE A COVERED POL ICY BE CONSIDERED FO R PRECLEARANCE 1
1044	1044	UNDER THIS SECTION , THE COVERED JURISDICTION SHALL : 2
1045	1045
1046	1046	(1) SUBMIT IN WRITING TH E COVERED POLICY TO THE COURT; AND 3
1047	1047
1048	1048	(2) CONTEMPORANEOUSLY TR ANSMIT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 4
1049	1049	A COPY OF THE COVERE D POLICY SUBMITTED T O THE COURT UNDER ITEM (1) OF 5
1050	1050	THIS SUBSECTION . 6
1051	1051
1052	1052	(C) FAILURE OF THE COVERE D JURISDICTION TO PROV IDE A COPY OF THE 7
1053	1053	POLICY TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(2) OF 8
1054	1054	THIS SECTION SHALL R ESULT IN AN AUTOMATI C DENIAL OF THE REQU EST FOR 9
1055	1055	PRECLEARANCE . 10
1056	1056
1057	1057	(D) THE COURT SHALL EXERCISE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTI ON OVER A 11
1058	1058	COVERED POLICY THAT IS SUBMITTED AND TRANSM ITTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH 12
1059	1059	SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 13
1060	1060
1061	1061	(E) THE COVERED JURISDICT ION SHALL BEAR THE B URDEN OF PROOF IN 14
1062	1062	THE COURT’S PRECLEARANCE DETER MINATION. 15
1063	1063
1064	1064	(F) THE COURT SHALL GRANT OR DENY PRECLEARANCE WI THIN 60 DAYS 16
1065	1065	FOLLOWING THE RECEIP T OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE COVERED POLIC Y. 17
1066	1066
1067	1067	(G) THE COURT MAY DENY PRECLE ARANCE ONLY IF IT DE TERMINES THAT 18
1068	1068	THE COVERED POLICY I S MORE LIKELY THAN N OT TO: 19
1069	1069
1070	1070	(1) IMPAIR THE OPPORTUNITY OR A BILITY OF PROTECTED CLASS 20
1071	1071	MEMBERS WHO ARE THE BASIS FOR TH E LOCAL GOVERNMENT ’S PRECLEARANCE 21
1072	1072	COVERAGE STATUS UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TH E POLITICAL 22
1073	1073	PROCESS AND ELECT CA NDIDATES OF THEIR CH OICE; OR 23
1074	1074
1075	1075	(2) VIOLATE A PROVISION IN THIS TITLE. 24
1076	1076
1077	1077	(H) (1) IF THE COURT GRANTS PRECLEAR ANCE, THE APPLICABLE 25
1078	1078	COVERED JURISDICTION MAY ENACT OR IMPLEME NT THE COVERED POLIC Y. 26
1079	1079
1080	1080	(2) IF THE COURT DENIES PRECLEAR ANCE, THE COVERED POLICY 27
1081	1081	MAY NOT BE ENACTED O R IMPLEMENTED .  28
1082	1082
1083	1083	(3) IF THE COURT FAILS TO GRANT OR DENY PRECLE ARANCE WITHIN 29
1084	1084	60 DAYS, THE COVERED JURISDICTION M AY NOT ENACT OR IMPL EMENT THE 30 SENATE BILL 660 25
1085	1085
1086	1086
1087	1087	COVERED POLICY .  1
1088	1088
1089	1089	(I) (1) A DENIAL OF PRECLEARANCE UNDER THIS SECTION M AY BE 2
1090	1090	APPEALED ONLY BY THE COVERED JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE 3
1091	1091	ORDINARY RULES OF AP PELLATE PROCEDURE . 4
1092	1092
1093	1093	(2) A PARTY OTHER THAN THE COVER ED JURISDICTION MAY NOT 5
1094	1094	FILE AN ACTION TO AP PEAL A DENIAL OF PRE CLEARANCE OR INTERVE NE IN AN 6
1095	1095	APPEAL ACTION BROUGHT BY TH E COVERED JURISDICTI ON. 7
1096	1096
1097	1097	(3) DUE TO THE FREQUENCY AND URGENCY OF ELECT IONS, ACTIONS 8
1098	1098	BROUGHT UNDER THIS S ECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO EX PEDITED PRETRIAL AND 9
1099	1099	TRIAL PROCEEDINGS AN D RECEIVE AN AUTOMAT IC CALENDAR PREFEREN CE ON 10
1100	1100	APPEAL.  11
1101	1101
1102	1102	15.5–407. 12
1103	1103
1104	1104	IF A COVERED JURISDIC TION ENACTS OR IMPLE MENTS A COVERED POLI CY 13
1105	1105	WITHOUT FIRST OBTAIN ING PRECLEARANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE, 14
1106	1106	THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION I N THE COURT TO ENJOIN THE 15
1107	1107	ENACTMENT OR IMPLEME NTATION OF A COVERED POLICY AND SEEK SANC TIONS: 16
1108	1108
1109	1109	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 17
1110	1110
1111	1111	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 18
1112	1112	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVE D PERSONS; 19
1113	1113
1114	1114	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 20
1115	1115	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; 21
1116	1116
1117	1117	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 22
1118	1118	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; OR 23
1119	1119
1120	1120	(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 24
1121	1121
1122	1122	15.5–408. 25
1123	1123
1124	1124	THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY ADOPT REGULATION S TO CARRY OUT THIS 26
1125	1125	SUBTITLE. 27
1126	1126
1127	1127	15.5–409. 28
1128	1128
1129	1129	A DETERMINATION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT TO GRANT 29 26 SENATE BILL 660
1130	1130
1131	1131
1132	1132	OR DENY PRECLEARANCE TO A COVERED POLICY MAY NOT BE ADMISSIBL E OR 1
1133	1133	OTHERWISE CONSIDERED BY A COURT IN ANY SUBSEQU ENT ACTION CHALLENGI NG 2
1134	1134	THE COVERED POLICY . 3
1135	1135
1136	1136	SUBTITLE 5. PROHIBITION OF VOTER INTIMIDATION AND OBSTRUCTION. 4
1137	1137
1138	1138	15.5–501. 5
1139	1139
1140	1140	(A) A PERSON, WHETHER ACTING UNDER COLOR OF LAW OR OTHE RWISE, 6
1141	1141	MAY NOT ENGAGE IN AC TS OF INTIMIDATION , DECEPTION, OR OBSTRUCTION THAT 7
1142	1142	INTERFERE WITH AN IN DIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE. 8
1143	1143
1144	1144	(B) THE FOLLOWING SHALL C ONSTITUTE A VIOLATIO N OF SUBSECTION (A) 9
1145	1145	OF THIS SECTION: 10
1146	1146
1147	1147	(1) THE USE OF FORCE OR THREATS TO USE FORCE , OR THE USE OF 11
1148	1148	ANY OTHER CONDUCT TO PRACTICE INTIMIDATIO N THAT CAUSES OR WILL 12
1149	1149	REASONABLY HAVE THE EFFECT OF CAUSING IN TERFERENCE WITH AN 13
1150	1150	INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE; 14
1151	1151
1152	1152	(2) THE KNOWING USE OF A DECEPTIVE OR FRAUDUL ENT DEVICE, 15
1153	1153	CONTRIVANCE , OR COMMUNICATION THA T CAUSES OR WILL REA SONABLY HAVE THE 16
1154	1154	EFFECT OF CAUSING I NTERFERENCE WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE; OR 17
1155	1155
1156	1156	(3) THE OBSTRUCTION OF , IMPEDIMENT TO , OR OTHER 18
1157	1157	INTERFERENCE WITH AC CESS TO A POLLING PL ACE, A BALLOT DROP BOX , OR AN 19
1158	1158	OFFICE OR A PLACE OF BUSINESS OF AN ELECT ION OFFICIAL OR A VO TER IN A 20
1159	1159	MANNER THAT CAUSES O R WILL REASONABLY HA VE THE EFFECT OF CAU SING 21
1160	1160	INTERFERENCE WITH ANY INDIV IDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE OR A NY DELAY IN VOTING 22
1161	1161	OR THE VOTING PROCES S. 23
1162	1162
1163	1163	(C) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION A LLEGING A VIOLATION 24
1164	1164	OF THIS SECTION IN T HE COURT: 25
1165	1165
1166	1166	(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 26
1167	1167
1168	1168	(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES OR IS LIKEL Y 27
1169	1169	TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 28
1170	1170
1171	1171	(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 29
1172	1172	VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; 30
1173	1173
1174	1174	(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 31 SENATE BILL 660 27
1175	1175
1176	1176
1177	1177	TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF T HIS SECTION; OR 1
1178	1178
1179	1179	(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 2
1180	1180
1181	1181	(D) (1) (I) IF THE COURT FINDS A VIOLATI ON OF THIS SECTION , THE 3
1182	1182	COURT SHALL ORDER APP ROPRIATE REMEDIES TH AT ARE TAILORED TO A DDRESS 4
1183	1183	THE VIOLATION. 5
1184	1184
1185	1185	(II) THE REMEDIES ORDERED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 6
1186	1186	THIS PARAGRAPH MAY I NCLUDE PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO V OTE 7
1187	1187	DURING AN ELECTION . 8
1188	1188
1189	1189	(2) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION OR WHO AIDS IN THE 9
1190	1190	VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION SHALL BE LIABL E FOR ANY DAMAGES AW ARDED BY THE 10
1191	1191	COURT, INCLUDING NOMINAL DA MAGES FOR ANY VIOLAT ION AND COMPENSATORY 11
1192	1192	OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR ANY WILLFUL VIOL ATION. 12
1193	1193
1194	1194	SUBTITLE 6. JURISDICTION AND PROCEEDINGS . 13
1195	1195
1196	1196	15.5–601. 14
1197	1197
1198	1198	IN ANY ACTION OR INVE STIGATION TO ENFORCE THIS TITLE, THE ATTORNEY 15
1199	1199	GENERAL MAY: 16
1200	1200
1201	1201	(1) ADMINISTER OATHS ; 17
1202	1202
1203	1203	(2) EXAMINE WITNESSES UNDER OATH ; 18
1204	1204
1205	1205	(3) RECEIVE ORAL AND DOC UMENTARY EVIDENCE ; 19
1206	1206
1207	1207	(4) DETERMINE MATERIAL F ACTS; AND 20
1208	1208
1209	1209	(5) ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN A CCORDANCE WITH THE O RDINARY RULES 21
1210	1210	OF CIVIL PROCEDURE . 22
1211	1211
1212	1212	15.5–602. 23
1213	1213
1214	1214	(A) ACTIONS BROUGHT UNDER THIS TITLE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO 24
1215	1215	EXPEDITED PRETRIAL A ND TRIAL PROCEEDINGS AND RECEIVE AN AUTOM ATIC 25
1216	1216	CALENDAR PREFERENCE . 26
1217	1217
1218	1218	(B) IF A PARTY SEEK ING PRELIMINARY RELIEF A LLEGES A VIOLATION OF 27
1219	1219	THIS TITLE THAT RELA TES TO AN UPCOMING E LECTION, THE COURT SHALL GRANT 28 28 SENATE BILL 660
1220	1220
1221	1221
1222	1222	RELIEF IF IT DETERMI NES THAT: 1
1223	1223
1224	1224	(1) THE PARTY IS MORE LI KELY THAN NOT TO SUC CEED ON THE 2
1225	1225	MERITS; AND 3
1226	1226
1227	1227	(2) IT IS POSSIBLE TO IM PLEMENT AN APPROPRIA TE REMEDY THAT 4
1228	1228	WOULD RESOLVE THE ALLEGED VIOLATION IN THE UPC OMING ELECTION . 5
1229	1229
1230	1230	SUBTITLE 7. COSTS AND FEES. 6
1231	1231
1232	1232	15.5–701. 7
1233	1233
1234	1234	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION , IN AN 8
1235	1235	ACTION TO ENFORCE TH IS TITLE, THE COURT SHALL AWARD REA SONABLE 9
1236	1236	ATTORNEY’S FEES AND LITIGAT ION COSTS, INCLUDING EXPERT WIT NESS FEES AND 10
1237	1237	EXPENSES, TO THE PARTY THAT PR EVAILED IN THE ACTIO N. 11
1238	1238
1239	1239	(B) (1) IF THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN MENT IS AN OPPOSING PARTY, A 12
1240	1240	PARTY WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE PREVAILED IN AN ACTION WHEN , AS A RESULT OF 13
1241	1241	THE ACTION, THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN MENT YIELDS SOME OR ALL OF THE 14
1242	1242	RELIEF SOUGHT IN THE ACTION. 15
1243	1243
1244	1244	(2) IF THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN MENT PREVAILS IN AN ACTION 16
1245	1245	UNDER THIS TITLE , THE COURT MAY NOT AWARD T HE STATE OR LOCAL 17
1246	1246	GOVERNMENT ANY COSTS UNLESS THE COURT FINDS THE ACTIO N TO BE 18
1247	1247	FRIVOLOUS. 19
1248	1248
1249	1249	15.5–702. 20
1250	1250
1251	1251	(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL: 21
1252	1252
1253	1253	(1) CONDUCT AN ASSESSMEN T OF THE NEEDS OF A LOCAL 22
1254	1254	GOVERNMENT REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH SUBTITLES 3 AND 4 OF THIS TITLE; 23
1255	1255	AND 24
1256	1256
1257	1257	(2) AWARD GRANTS TO LOCA L GOVERNMENTS , BASED ON THE NEEDS 25
1258	1258	ASSESSMENT , TO SUPPORT: 26
1259	1259
1260	1260	(I) LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND MULTILINGUAL MAT ERIALS 27
1261	1261	PROVIDED TO VOTERS O F LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY U NDER SUBTITLE 3 OF 28
1262	1262	THIS TITLE; AND 29
1263	1263	SENATE BILL 660 29
1264	1264
1265	1265
1266	1266	(II) ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN SUBMI TTING 1
1267	1267	COVERED POLICIES FOR PRECLEARANCE UNDER SUBTITLE 4 OF THIS TITLE. 2
1268	1268
1269	1269	(B) THE STATE BOARD MAY AWARD GRANTS TO: 3
1270	1270
1271	1271	(1) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO FURTHER THE PURPOSES OF THIS 4
1272	1272	TITLE, INCLUDING BY SUPPORT ING: 5
1273	1273
1274	1274	(I) DEVELOPMENT AND DIST RIBUTION OF EDUCATIO NAL 6
1275	1275	MATERIALS REGARDING VOTING RIGHTS AND TH E VOTING PROCESS ; 7
1276	1276
1277	1277	(II) PUBLIC EDUCATION CAM PAIGNS REGARDING VOT ING 8
1278	1278	RIGHTS AND THE ELECT ION PROCESS; 9
1279	1279
1280	1280	(III) PROVIDING TRAINING A ND RESOURCES TO LOCA L 10
1281	1281	ELECTION OFFICIALS , ELECTION JUDGES , AND VOLUNTEERS ; 11
1282	1282
1283	1283	(IV) VOTER OUTREACH EFFOR TS TARGETED AT HIS TORICALLY 12
1284	1284	DISENFRANCHISED COMM UNITIES; AND 13
1285	1285
1286	1286	(V) ESTABLISHING MECHANI SMS FOR VOTERS TO RE PORT 14
1287	1287	INCIDENTS OF VOTER I NTIMIDATION, SUPPRESSION , OR DISCRIMINATION TO 15
1288	1288	VOTING OFFICIALS ; AND 16
1289	1289
1290	1290	(2) COMMUNITY –BASED, CIVIC, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORG ANIZATIONS 17
1291	1291	TO SUPPORT: 18
1292	1292
1293	1293	(I) VOTER EDUCATION AND MOBILIZATION; 19
1294	1294
1295	1295	(II) VOTER REGISTRATION D RIVES; 20
1296	1296
1297	1297	(III) CANDIDATE FORUMS ; 21
1298	1298
1299	1299	(IV) GET–OUT–THE–VOTE CAMPAIGNS ; AND 22
1300	1300
1301	1301	(V) RESEARCH PROJECTS DE SIGNED TO IDENTIFY B EST 23
1302	1302	PRACTICES FOR IMPROV ING VOTER PARTICIPAT ION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT , AND 24
1303	1303	BALLOT ACCESS . 25
1304	1304
1305	1305	(C) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH AND PUBLISH PROCEDUR ES FOR: 26
1306	1306
1307	1307	(1) CONDUCTING THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT REQUIRED UNDER 27
1308	1308	SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION; AND 28 30 SENATE BILL 660
1309	1309
1310	1310
1311	1311
1312	1312	(2) AWARDING GRANTS UNDE R THIS SECTION. 1
1313	1313
1314	1314	(D) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 2
1315	1315	SECTION, INCLUDING PROCEDURES TO MONITOR THE USE O F GRANT FUNDS 3
1316	1316	AWARDED UNDER THIS SECTION . 4
1317	1317
1318	1318	15.5–703. 5
1319	1319
1320	1320	(A) IN THIS SECTION , “FUND” MEANS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT 6
1321	1321	IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FUND. 7
1322	1322
1323	1323	(B) THERE IS A VOTING RIGHTS ACT IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FUND. 8
1324	1324
1325	1325	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO MAKE GRANTS TO SUPPORT 9
1326	1326	ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO FURTHER VOTING RI GHTS IN THE STATE. 10
1327	1327
1328	1328	(D) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 11
1329	1329
1330	1330	(E) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 12
1331	1331	SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 13
1332	1332
1333	1333	(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 14
1334	1334	AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 15
1335	1335
1336	1336	(F) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 16
1337	1337
1338	1338	(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 17
1339	1339
1340	1340	(2) INTEREST EARNINGS ; AND 18
1341	1341
1342	1342	(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 19
1343	1343	THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 20
1344	1344
1345	1345	(G) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO: 21
1346	1346
1347	1347	(1) AWARD GRANTS UNDER § 15.5–702 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 22
1348	1348
1349	1349	(2) COVER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FUND. 23
1350	1350
1351	1351	(H) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND 24
1352	1352	IN THE SAME MANNER A S OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 25
1353	1353	SENATE BILL 660 31
1354	1354
1355	1355
1356	1356	(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO 1
1357	1357	THE FUND. 2
1358	1358
1359	1359	(I) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 3
1360	1360	WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 4
1361	1361
1362	1362	Article – State Finance and Procurement 5
1363	1363
1364	1364	6–226. 6
1365	1365
1366	1366	(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 7
1367	1367	inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 8
1368	1368	terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 9
1369	1369	State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 10
1370	1370	receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 11
1371	1371	Fund of the State. 12
1372	1372
1373	1373	(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 13
1374	1374	to the following funds: 14
1375	1375
1376	1376	189. the Teacher Retention and Development Fund; [and] 15
1377	1377
1378	1378	190. the Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant Fund; AND 16
1379	1379
1380	1380	191. THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IMPLEMENTATION GRANT 17
1381	1381	FUND. 18
1382	1382
1383	1383	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
1384	1384	January 1, 2025. 20