EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1044*
HOUSE BILL 1044
G1 5lr2746
CF 5lr2749
By: Delegates Smith, R. Lewis, and Palakovich Carr
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2025 – Preclearance and Voter Intimidation and 2
Obstruction 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Attorney General or the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel 4
County to review and grant preclearance to certain policies before enactment or 5
implementation; authorizing certain persons to file an action if the Attorney General 6
or the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County fails to properly carry out certain 7
provisions of this Act; prohibiting acts of intimidation or obstruction that interfere 8
with the right to vote; and generally relating to voting rights. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Election Law 11
Section 15.5–101 through 15.5–301 to be under the new title “Title 15.5. Voting 12
Rights Act – Preclearance and Voter Intimidation and Obstruction” 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Election Law 18
TITLE 15.5. VOTING RIGHTS ACT – PRECLEARANCE AND VOTER INTIMIDATION 19
AND OBSTRUCTION. 20
SUBTITLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 21
15.5–101. 22
(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 23 2 HOUSE BILL 1044
INDICATED, UNLESS A DIFFERENT M EANING IS CLEARLY IN TENDED FROM THE 1
CONTEXT. 2
(B) “ATTORNEY GENERAL” MEANS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE 3
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 4
(C) “COURT” MEANS THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. 5
(D) “COVERED JURISDICTION ” MEANS A LOCAL GOVERN MENT: 6
(1) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, HAS 7
BECOME SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER OR GOVER NMENT ENFORCEMENT AC TION 8
BASED ON A FINDING O F A VIOLATION OF THI S TITLE, THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS 9
ACT, THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, OR A VOTING–RELATED 10
VIOLATION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION FOR 11
DISCRIMINATION AGAIN ST MEMBERS OF A PROT ECTED CLASS; 12
(2) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, HAS 13
BECOME SUBJECT TO A COURT ORDER OR GOVER NMENT ENFORCEMENT AC TION 14
BASED ON A FINDING OF A VIOLA TION OF A FEDERAL OR STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LA W 15
OR THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION CONCERNI NG A PATTERN, 16
PRACTICE, OR POLICY THAT RESUL TED IN DISCRIMINATIO N AGAINST MEMBERS OF 17
A PROTECTED CLASS ; 18
(3) THAT, WITHIN THE IMMEDIAT ELY PRECEDING 25 YEARS, WAS 19
FOUND TO HAVE ENACTE D OR IMPLEMENTED A C OVERED POLICY WITHOU T 20
OBTAINING PRECLEARAN CE FOR THE COVERED POLICY UNDER THIS SUBTITLE; OR 21
(4) THAT CONTAINS AT LEA ST 6,000 CITIZENS OF ANY PROT ECTED 22
CLASS OF VOTING AGE, OR WHOSE MEMB ERS CONSTITUTE AT LEAST 15% OF THE 23
CITIZEN VOTING–AGE POPULATION OF TH E LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WITHIN THE 24
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G 10 YEARS: 25
(I) THE PERCENTAGE OF TH E CITIZEN VOTING –AGE 26
POPULATION OF THE PR OTECTED CLASS THAT I S REGISTERED TO VOTE IS AT LEAST 27
10 PERCENTAGE POINTS LO WER THAN THE PERCENT AGE OF ALL CITIZENS OF 28
VOTING AGE THAT ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 29
(II) THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CI TIZEN VOTING –AGE 30
POPULATION OF A PROTECTED CLASS THAT PARTICIPATED IN ANY GENERAL 31
ELECTION FOR LOCAL O FFICE, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE , LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL, 32
AND OTHER LOCAL OFFI CES, IS AT LEAST 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS LO WER THAN THE 33
PERCENTAGE OF ALL CI TIZENS OF VOTING AGE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE 34 HOUSE BILL 1044 3
GENERAL ELECTION ; OR 1
(III) HAS HAD A TRAFFIC STOP RATE OR THE COMBINED 2
MISDEMEANOR AND FELO NY ARREST RATE OF ME MBERS OF ANY PROTECT ED CLASS 3
THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE RATE OF T HE WHOLE POPULATION OF THE 4
JURISDICTION. 5
(E) (1) “COVERED POLICY ” MEANS A NEW OR MODIF IED STANDARD , 6
PRACTICE, PROCEDUR E, LAW, ORDINANCE, REGULATION , OR POLICY THAT A 7
COVERED JURISDICTION IS REQUIRED TO SUBMI T FOR PRECLEARANCE . 8
(2) “COVERED POLICY ” INCLUDES: 9
(I) IF THE COVERED JURIS DICTION IS A MUNICIP ALITY: 10
1. THE METHOD OF ELECTI ON FOR THE GOVERNING 11
BODY; 12
2. DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 13
3. THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON THE GOVERNING BOD Y; 14
4. ANNEXATION , INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, 15
CONSOLIDATION , OR DIVISION OF A MUN ICIPALITY; 16
5. THE TIMING OF MUNICI PAL ELECTIONS ; 17
6. VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS, INCLUDING THE 18
REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUA LS FROM A VOTER REGI STRATION LIST AND CA NCELLATION 19
OR DENIAL OF VOTER R EGISTRATION; 20
7. VOTER CHALLENGERS , WATCHERS, OR OBSERVERS ; 21
8. THE HOURS, LOCATIONS, OR NUMBER OF POLLING 22
PLACES, EARLY VOTING CENTERS , OR DROP BOX LOCATION S; 23
9. THE REORGANIZATION O F PRECINCTS; 24
10. THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOTING EQUIPMENT AND 25
STAFF, INCLUDING ELECTION J UDGES, TO POLLING PLACES AN D EARLY VOTING 26
CENTERS; AND 27
11. ANY ADDITIONAL SUBJE CT MATTER THAT MAY BE 28 4 HOUSE BILL 1044
IDENTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY REGULATION ; 1
(II) IF THE COVERED JURIS DICTION IS A COUNTY OR COUNTY 2
BOARD OF EDUCATION : 3
1. THE METHOD OF ELECTI ON FOR THE GOVERNING 4
BODY OF THE COVERED JURISDICTION; 5
2. DISTRICTING OR REDIS TRICTING; 6
3. THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON TH E GOVERNING BODY OF 7
THE COVERED JURISDIC TION; AND 8
4. ANY ADDITIONAL SUBJE CT MATTER THAT MAY BE 9
IDENTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY REGULATION ; AND 10
(III) A METHOD OF ELECTION OR A DISTRICTING PLA N IF A 11
COVERED JURISDICTION MAINTAINS THE METHOD OF ELECTION OR MAKES NO 12
REVISIONS TO THE DIS TRICTING PLAN AFTER A DECENNIAL CENSUS . 13
(F) “GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMEN T ACTION” MEANS A DENIAL OF 14
ADMINISTRATIVE OR JU DICIAL PRECLEARANCE BY THE FEDERAL OR STATE 15
GOVERNMENT , PENDING LITIGATION F ILED BY A FEDERAL OR STATE ENTITY, A 16
FINAL JUDGMENT OR AD JUDICATION, A CONSENT DECREE , OR A SIMILAR FORMAL 17
ACTION. 18
(G) “LOCAL GOVERNMENT ” MEANS: 19
(1) A MUNICIPALITY OR CO UNTY, AS THOSE TERMS ARE D EFINED IN § 20
1–101 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; OR 21
(2) A COUNTY BOARD OF ED UCATION, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE 22
EDUCATION ARTICLE. 23
(H) “PRECLEARANCE ” MEANS THE REQUIREMEN T THAT A LOCAL 24
GOVERNMENT SUBMIT TH E PROPOSED ENACTMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF A 25
COVERED POLICY IN WR ITING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT FOR 26
APPROVAL OR DENIAL . 27
SUBTITLE 2. PRECLEARANCE . 28
15.5–201. 29
HOUSE BILL 1044 5
(A) THE ENACTMENT OR IMPL EMENTATION OF A COVE RED POLICY BY A 1
COVERED JURISDICTION IS SUBJECT TO PRECLE ARANCE BY: 2
(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UNDER § 15.5–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 3
OR 4
(2) THE COURT, UNDER § 15.5–205 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
(B) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THA T IS NOT A COVERED J URISDICTION MAY 6
SUBMIT A PROPOSED PO LICY FOR PRECLEARANCE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 7
UNDER § 15.5–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
15.5–202. 9
(A) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND AT LEAST ANNUALL Y 10
THEREAFTER , THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL DETERMI NE WHICH LOCAL 11
GOVERNMENTS ARE COVE RED JURISDICTIONS . 12
(B) A STATE AGENCY OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ENTITY S HALL TRANSMIT TO 13
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANY DATA OR INFORMAT ION IN A USABLE FORMAT THAT 14
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSIDERS NEC ESSARY TO MAKE THE D ETERMINATION 15
UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 16
(C) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 17
(1) AS SOON AS PRACTICAB LE, PUBLISH AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF 18
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE COVERED JURISDICTION S ON THE WEBSITE OF 19
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; AND 20
(2) PROVIDE NOTICE TO EACH LOCAL GOVERNMEN T THAT IS A 21
COVERED JURISDICTION . 22
15.5–203. 23
(A) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 24
(1) REVIEW A COVERED POL ICY SUBMITTED FOR PRECLEARANCE , 25
INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING T HE COVERED POLICY ; AND 26
(2) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT PRE CLEARANCE 27
FOR THE COVERED POLI CY. 28
(B) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY DENY PREC LEARANCE ONLY IF IT 29 6 HOUSE BILL 1044
DETERMINES THAT THE COVERED POL ICY IS MORE LIKELY T HAN NOT TO: 1
(1) DIMINISH THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OR ABILI TY OF PROTECTED 2
CLASS MEMBERS WHO AR E THE BASIS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ’S 3
PRECLEARANCE COVERAG E STATUS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE TO PARTICIP ATE IN THE 4
POLITICAL PROCESS OR NOMINATE OR ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE; OR 5
(2) VIOLATE THIS TITLE . 6
(C) (1) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GRANTS PRECLE ARANCE, THE 7
APPLICABLE COVERED J URISDICTION MAY ENAC T OR IMPLEMENT THE C OVERED 8
POLICY. 9
(2) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DENIES PRECLE ARANCE: 10
(I) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL PROVIDE A WRIT TEN 11
EXPLANATION OF THE D ENIAL; AND 12
(II) THE APPLICABLE COVER ED JURISDICTION MAY NOT ENACT 13
OR IMPLEMENT THE COV ERED POLICY. 14
(3) IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FAILS TO RESP OND WITHIN THE 15
REQUIRED TIME PERIOD UNDER § 15.5–204 OF THIS SUBTITLE, PRECLEARANCE FOR 16
THE COVERED POLICY S HALL BE DEEMED GRANT ED AND THE APPLICABL E 17
JURISDICTION MAY ENA CT OR IMPLEMENT THE COVERED POLICY . 18
(D) (1) A DENIAL OF PRECLEARAN CE UNDER THIS SECTIO N MAY BE 19
APPEALED ONLY BY THE COVERED JURISDICTION TO THE APPELLATE COURT OF 20
MARYLAND. 21
(2) A PARTY OTHER THAN THE COVERED JURISDICTION MAY NOT 22
FILE AN ACTION TO AP PEAL A DENIAL OF PRE CLEARANCE OR INTERVE NE IN AN 23
APPEAL ACTION BROUGH T BY THE COVERED JUR ISDICTION. 24
(E) IN A PRECLEARANCE DETERMINATION SUBMIT TED TO THE ATTORNEY 25
GENERAL, THE COVERED JURISDIC TION SHALL BEAR THE BURDEN OF PROOF . 26
15.5–204. 27
(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND EXCEPT 28
AS PROVIDED IN SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE 29
RECEIPT OF A COVERED POLICY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL : 30
HOUSE BILL 1044 7
(I) REVIEW THE COVERED P OLICY, INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC 1
COMMENTS REGARDING T HE COVERED POLICY; AND 2
(II) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT 3
PRECLEARANCE FOR THE COVERED POLICY . 4
(2) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVOKE AN EXTENSION OF UP TO 5
60 DAYS TO MAKE A DETER MINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 6
(B) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO A COVERED POLICY 7
REGARDING: 8
(I) CHANGES TO THE METHO D OF ELECTION FOR A GOVERNING 9
BODY; 10
(II) DISTRICTING OR REDISTRICTING ; 11
(III) THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON A GOVERNING BODY ; OR 12
(IV) ANNEXATION , INCORPORATION , DISSOLUTION, 13
CONSOLIDATION , OR DIVISION OF A LOC AL GOVERNMENT . 14
(2) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND WITHIN 15
60 DAYS AFTER THE SUBMISSION OF THE CO VERED POLICY , THE ATTORNEY 16
GENERAL SHALL : 17
(I) REVIEW A COVERED POL ICY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION 18
AND ANY PUBLIC COMME NTS REGARDING THE CO VERED POLICY; AND 19
(II) MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DENY OR GRANT 20
PRECLEARANCE FOR THE COVERED P OLICY. 21
(3) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVOKE UP TO TWO EXTENSIONS 22
OF UP TO 90 DAYS TO MAKE A DETER MINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 23
15.5–205. 24
(A) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRECLEARANCE THROUGH THE ATTORNEY 25
GENERAL UNDER § 15.5–203 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A COVERED JURISDICTION MAY 26
SUBMIT A COVERED POL ICY TO THE COURT FOR PRECLEARANC E. 27
(B) TO HAVE A COVERED POL ICY BE CONSIDERED FO R PRECLEARANCE 28
UNDER THIS SECTION , THE COVERED JURISDIC TION SHALL: 29 8 HOUSE BILL 1044
(1) SUBMIT IN WRITING TH E COVERED POLICY TO THE COURT; AND 1
(2) CONTEMPORANEOUSLY TR ANSMIT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 2
A COPY OF THE COVERE D POLICY SUBMITTED T O THE COURT UNDER ITEM (1) OF 3
THIS SUBSECTION . 4
(C) THE COURT SHALL EXERCISE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTI ON OVER A 5
COVERED POLICY THAT IS SUBMITTED AND TRA NSMITTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH 6
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 7
(D) THE COURT SHALL GRANT OR DENY PRECLEARANCE WI THIN 60 DAYS 8
FOLLOWING THE RECEIP T OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE COVERED POLIC Y. 9
(E) THE COURT MAY DENY PRECLE ARANCE ONLY IF IT DE TERMINES THAT 10
THE COVERED PO LICY IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT TO: 11
(1) DIMINISH THE OPPORTUNITY OR A BILITY OF PROTECTED CLASS 12
MEMBERS WHO ARE THE BASIS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ’S PRECLEARANCE 13
COVERAGE STATUS UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE TO P ARTICIPATE IN THE PO LITICAL 14
PROCESS OR NOMINATE OR ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE; OR 15
(2) VIOLATE THIS TITLE . 16
(F) (1) IF THE COURT GRANTS PRECLEAR ANCE, THE APPLICABLE 17
COVERED JURISDICTION MAY ENACT OR IMPLEME NT THE COVERED POLIC Y. 18
(2) IF THE COURT DENIES PRECLEAR ANCE, THE COVERED POLICY 19
MAY NOT BE ENACTED OR IMPLEM ENTED. 20
(3) IF THE COURT FAILS TO GRANT OR DENY PRECLEARANCE WITHIN 21
60 DAYS, THE COVERED JURISDIC TION MAY NOT ENACT O R IMPLEMENT THE 22
COVERED POLICY . 23
(G) (1) A DENIAL OF PRECLEARAN CE UNDER THIS SECTIO N MAY BE 24
APPEALED ONLY BY THE COVERED JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE 25
ORDINARY RULES OF AP PELLATE PROCEDURE . 26
(2) A PARTY OTHER THAN THE COVERED JURISDICTION MAY NOT 27
FILE AN ACTION TO AP PEAL A DENIAL OF PRE CLEARANCE OR INTERVE NE IN AN 28
APPEAL ACTION BROUGH T BY THE COVERED JUR ISDICTION. 29
15.5–206. 30 HOUSE BILL 1044 9
IF A COVERED JURISDIC TION ENACTS OR IMPLE MENTS A COVERED POLI CY 1
WITHOUT FIRST OBTAIN ING PRECLEARANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE, 2
THE FOLLOWING PERSON S MAY FILE AN ACTION IN THE COURT TO ENJOIN THE 3
ENACTMENT OR IMPLEME NTATION OF A COVERED POLICY AND S EEK SANCTIONS : 4
(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 5
(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 6
TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 7
(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 8
VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; 9
(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WO ULD EXPEND RESOURCES IN ORDER 10
TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; OR 11
(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 12
15.5–207. 13
(A) AN ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE BROUG HT IF: 14
(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT HAS APPROVED 15
PRECLEARANCE FOR A COVERED POLICY IN VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE; 16
(2) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS IDENTIFIE D A LIST OF COVERED 17
JURISDICTIONS THAT I S INCONSISTENT WITH THIS SUBTITLE; OR 18
(3) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY IMPLEMENT 19
THIS SUBTITLE. 20
(B) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION U NDER THIS SECTION : 21
(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 22
(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 23
TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 24
(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOUL D BE FRUSTRATED BY A 25
VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 26
(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 27 10 HOUSE BILL 1044
TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE. 1
(C) IN AN ACTION UNDER THIS SE CTION, THE COURT: 2
(1) SHALL EVALUATE THE CLAIMS ON A DE NOVO BASIS AND MAY NOT 3
GIVE DEFERENCE TO TH E ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COURT; 4
(2) MAY PROVIDE INJUNCTI VE RELIEF OR ORDER ANY OTHER 5
ADEQUATE REMEDY ; AND 6
(3) MAY STAY THE IMPLEME NTATION OF A COVERED POLICY UNTIL 7
THE COURT MAKES A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER PRECLEARANCE SHOULD 8
HAVE BEEN GRANTED . 9
(D) AN ACTION FILED UNDER THIS SECTION DOES NO T LIMIT ANY OTHER 10
CLAIMS THAT MAY BE B ROUGHT REGARDING A COVERED POLICY, INCLUDING 11
CLAIMS UNDER THIS TITLE. 12
15.5–208. 13
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 14
SUBTITLE, INCLUDING: 15
(1) THE CONTENT OF AND P ROCEDURE FOR PRECLEA RANCE 16
SUBMISSIONS; AND 17
(2) PROCEDURES FOR : 18
(I) PUBLIC COMMENT AND T RANSPARENCY FOR 19
PRECLEARANCE DETERMI NATIONS; AND 20
(II) EXPEDITED OR EMERGEN CY PRECLEARANCE 21
DETERMINATIONS . 22
SUBTITLE 3. PROHIBITION OF VOTER INTIMIDATION AND OBSTRUCTION. 23
15.5–301. 24
(A) A PERSON, WHETHER ACTING UNDER COLOR OF LAW OR OTHE RWISE, 25
MAY NOT ENGAGE IN AC TS OF INTIMIDATION , DECEPTION, OR OBSTRUCTION THAT 26
INTERFERE WITH AN IN DIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE. 27
(B) THE FOLLOWING SHALL C ONSTITUTE A VIOLATIO N OF SUBSECTION (A) 28 HOUSE BILL 1044 11
OF THIS SECTION: 1
(1) THE USE OF FORCE OR THREATS TO USE FORCE , OR THE USE OF 2
ANY OTHER CONDUCT TO PRACTICE INTIMIDATIO N THAT CAUSES OR WILL 3
REASONABLY HAVE THE EFFECT OF CAUSING IN TERFERENCE WITH AN 4
INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE; 5
(2) THE KNOWING USE OF A DECEPTIVE OR FRAUDUL ENT DEVICE, 6
CONTRIVANCE , OR COMMUNICATION THA T CAUSES OR WILL REA SONABLY HAVE THE 7
EFFECT OF CAUSING IN TERFERENCE WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE; OR 8
(3) THE OBSTRUCTION OF , IMPEDIMENT TO , OR OTHER 9
INTERFEREN CE WITH ACCESS TO A POLLING PLACE , A BALLOT DROP BOX , OR AN 10
OFFICE OR A PLACE OF BUSINESS OF AN ELECT ION OFFICIAL OR A VO TER IN A 11
MANNER THAT CAUSES O R WILL REASONABLY HA VE THE EFFECT OF CAU SING 12
INTERFERENCE WITH AN Y INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO VOTE OR A NY DELAY IN VOTING 13
OR THE VOTING PROCES S. 14
(C) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY FILE AN ACTION A LLEGING A VIOLATION 15
OF THIS SECTION IN T HE COURT: 16
(1) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON ; 17
(2) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE S OR IS LIKELY 18
TO INCLUDE AGGRIEVED PERSONS; 19
(3) AN ORGANIZATION WHOS E MISSION WOULD BE F RUSTRATED BY A 20
VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; 21
(4) AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD EXPEND RESOURC ES IN ORDER 22
TO FULFILL ITS MISSI ON AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION; OR 23
(5) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 24
(D) (1) (I) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER LAW, IF THE COURT FINDS 25
A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, THE COURT SHALL ORDER APP ROPRIATE REMEDIES 26
THAT ARE TAILORED TO ADDRESS THE VIOLATIO N. 27
(II) THE REMEDIES ORDERED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF 28
THIS PARAGRAPH MAY I NCLUDE PROVIDING FOR ADDITI ONAL TIME TO VOTE 29
DURING AN ELECTION . 30
(2) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION OR WHO AIDS IN THE 31 12 HOUSE BILL 1044
VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION SHALL BE LIABL E FOR ANY DAMAGES AW ARDED BY THE 1
COURT, INCLUDING NOMINAL DA MAGES FOR ANY VIOLAT ION AND COMPENSA TORY 2
OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR ANY WILLFUL VIOL ATION. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
January 1, 2026. 5