EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0153*
HOUSE BILL 153
G1 5lr0779
HB 436/24 – W&M (PRE–FILED) CF 5lr0780
By: Delegates Fair, Feldmark, Kaufman, Lehman, Palakovich Carr, Pruski, Ruth,
Stewart, and Terrasa
Requested: September 9, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Voter Registration – Age and Notification to Minors 2
FOR the purpose of altering the age at which an individual may register to vote; requiring 3
that a voter notification card sent to an individual under a certain age include 4
information regarding when the individual will be eligible to vote; requiring the 5
election director in the county where a registered voter becomes eligible to vote under 6
a certain provision of law to send a certain notice to the voter; and generally relating 7
to voter registration. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Election Law 10
Section 3–102 and 3–301 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Election Law 16
3–102. 17
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may 18
become registered to vote if the individual: 19
(i) is a citizen of the United States; 20
(ii) is at least [16] 15 years AND 9 MONTHS old; 21 2 HOUSE BILL 153
(iii) is a resident of the State as of the day the individual seeks to 1
register; and 2
(iv) registers pursuant to this title. 3
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, an individual 4
under the age of 18 years: 5
(i) may vote in a primary election in which candidates are 6
nominated for a general or special election that will occur when the individual is at least 7
18 years old; and 8
(ii) may not vote in any other election. 9
(b) An individual is not qualified to be a registered voter if the individual: 10
(1) has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a court–ordered 11
sentence of imprisonment for the conviction; 12
(2) is under guardianship for mental disability and a court of competent 13
jurisdiction has specifically found by clear and convincing evidence that the individual 14
cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting 15
process; or 16
(3) has been convicted of buying or selling votes. 17
3–301. 18
(a) When a voter registration application is received by a local board, the local 19
board shall: 20
(1) if the applicant resides in the county of the local board, determine 21
whether the applicant is qualified to become a registered voter; or 22
(2) if the applicant resides in a different county in the State, immediately 23
forward the application to the proper county. 24
(b) The information contained in the voter registration application for a qualified 25
applicant shall be electronically entered into the statewide voter registration list on an 26
expedited basis at the time voter registration information is provided to the local board and 27
shall be assigned to the county in which the applicant resides unless registration is closed 28
pursuant to § 3–302 of this subtitle. 29
(c) (1) The election director in the county where an applicant resides shall 30
send a voter acknowledgment notice, in a format prescribed by the State Board, to each 31 HOUSE BILL 153 3
applicant informing the applicant whether he or she is qualified to become registered, and, 1
if not qualified, the reasons why. 2
(2) (i) A voter notification card sent to a qualified applicant may serve 3
as a voter acknowledgment notice. 4
(ii) 1. The voter notification card shall contain: 5
A. the name and address of the voter, the date of issue, and 6
the district or ward and precinct of the voter; AND 7
B. IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, 8
INFORMATION REGARDIN G WHEN THE INDIVIDUA L WILL BE ELIGIBLE T O VOTE. 9
2. The card is evidence that the individual to whom it is 10
issued is a registered voter on the date appearing on the card. 11
3. The election director shall issue a replacement card on 12
request of the voter and a new card when a relevant change is made in the voter’s 13
registration record if the voter continues to reside in the county. 14
(D) (1) THE ELECTION DIRECTOR IN THE COUNTY WHERE A REGISTERED 15
VOTER WHO BECOMES ELIGIBLE TO VOTE UND ER § 3–102(A)(2) OF THIS TITLE 16
RESIDES SHALL SEND T O THE VOTER: 17
(I) A NOTICE THAT THE VO TER IS ELIGIBLE TO V OTE IN THE 18
NEXT SCHEDULED PRIMA RY ELECTION; AND 19
(II) INFORMATION ON THE V OTING METHODS AVAILA BLE TO 20
THE REGISTERED VOTE R AND THE LOCATION O F THE APPLICABLE EAR LY VOTING 21
CENTERS AND POLLING PLACE. 22
(2) THE ELECTION DIRECTOR SHALL SEND THE NOTIC E REQUIRED 23
UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION D URING THE TIME PERIO D 24
DETERMINED BY THE STATE BOARD. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FUR THER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2025. 27