EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*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
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 11, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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
2 HOUSE BILL 153
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may 1
become registered to vote if the individual: 2
(i) is a citizen of the United States; 3
(ii) is at least [16] 15 years AND 9 MONTHS old; 4
(iii) is a resident of the State as of the day the individual seeks to 5
register; and 6
(iv) registers pursuant to this title. 7
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, an individual 8
under the age of 18 years: 9
(i) may vote in a primary election in which candidates are 10
nominated for a general or special election that will occur when the individual is at least 11
18 years old; and 12
(ii) may not vote in any other election. 13
(b) An individual is not qualified to be a registered voter if the individual: 14
(1) has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a court–ordered 15
sentence of imprisonment for the conviction; 16
(2) is under guardianship for mental disability and a court of competent 17
jurisdiction has specifically found by clear and convincing evidence that the individual 18
cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting 19
process; or 20
(3) has been convicted of buying or selling votes. 21
3–301. 22
(a) When a voter registration application is received by a local board, the local 23
board shall: 24
(1) if the applicant resides in the county of the local board, determine 25
whether the applicant is qualified to become a registered voter; or 26
(2) if the applicant resides in a different county in the State, immediately 27
forward the application to the proper county. 28
(b) The information contained in the voter registration application for a qualified 29
applicant shall be electronically entered into the statewide voter registration list on an 30
expedited basis at the time voter registration information is provided to the local board and 31 HOUSE BILL 153 3
shall be assigned to the county in which the applicant resides unless registration is closed 1
pursuant to § 3–302 of this subtitle. 2
(c) (1) The election director in the county where an applicant resides shall 3
send a voter acknowledgment notice, in a format prescribed by the State Board, to each 4
applicant informing the applicant whether he or she is qualified to become registered, and, 5
if not qualified, the reasons why. 6
(2) (i) A voter notification card sent to a qualified applicant may serve 7
as a voter acknowledgment notice. 8
(ii) 1. The voter notification card shall contain: 9
A. the name and address of the voter, the date of issue, and 10
the district or ward and precinct of the voter; AND 11
B. IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, 12
INFORMATION REGARDIN G WHEN THE INDIVIDUA L WILL BE ELIGIBLE T O VOTE. 13
2. The card is evidence that the individual to whom it is 14
issued is a registered voter on the date appearing on the card. 15
3. The election director shall issue a replacement card on 16
request of the voter and a new card when a relevant change is made in the voter’s 17
registration record if the voter continues to reside in the county. 18
(D) (1) THE ELECTION DIRECTOR IN THE COUNTY WHERE A REGISTERED 19
VOTER WHO BECOMES EL IGIBLE TO VOTE UNDER § 3–102(A)(2) OF THIS TITLE 20
RESIDES SHALL SEND T O THE VOTER: 21
(I) A NOTICE THAT THE VO TER IS ELIGIBLE TO V OTE IN THE 22
NEXT SCHEDULED PRIMA RY ELECTION; AND 23
(II) INFORMATION ON THE V OTING METHODS AVAILA BLE TO 24
THE REGISTERED VOTER AND THE LOCATION OF THE APPLICABLE EARLY VOTING 25
CENTERS AND POLLING PLACE. 26
(2) THE ELECTION DIRECTOR SHALL SEND THE NOTIC E REQUIRED 27
UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION DURING TH E TIME PERIOD 28
DETERMINED BY THE STATE BOARD. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 30
October 1, 2025. 31