EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0710*
HOUSE BILL 710
G1 5lr0643
CF 5lr2951
By: Delegate Wilkins
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Incarcerated Individuals – Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility 2
(Voting Rights for All Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a certain voter hotline 4
for incarcerated individuals; altering the circumstances under which an individual 5
is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals 6
convicted of a felony and serving a court–ordered sentence of imprisonment for the 7
conviction to register to vote; and generally relating to a voting hotline and voting 8
eligibility for incarcerated individuals. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Election Law 11
Section 1–306 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Election Law 16
Section 3–102 and 3–504(a) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
BY repealing 20
Article – Election Law 21
Section 16–202 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26
2 HOUSE BILL 710
Article – Election Law 1
1–306. 2
(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE A TOLL–FREE VOTER HOTLINE F OR 3
INCARCERATED INDIVID UALS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT VO TING, REQUEST 4
ELECTION–RELATED MATERIALS , AND REPORT VOTING RI GHTS VIOLATIONS . 5
(B) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS IN COLLABOR ATION 6
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND 7
CORRECTIONAL FACILIT IES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION O F THE VOTER HOTLINE . 8
3–102. 9
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may 10
become registered to vote if the individual: 11
(i) is a citizen of the United States; 12
(ii) is at least 16 years old; 13
(iii) is a resident of the State as of the day the individual seeks to 14
register; and 15
(iv) registers pursuant to this title. 16
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, an individual 17
under the age of 18 years: 18
(i) may vote in a primary election in which candidates are 19
nominated for a general or special election that will occur when the individual is at least 20
18 years old; and 21
(ii) may not vote in any other election. 22
(b) An individual is not qualified to be a registered voter if the individual: 23
(1) [has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a court–ordered 24
sentence of imprisonment for the conviction; 25
(2)] is under guardianship for mental disability and a court of competent 26
jurisdiction has specifically found by clear and convincing evidence that the individual 27
cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting 28
process; or 29
[(3)] (2) has been convicted of buying or selling votes. 30 HOUSE BILL 710 3
3–504. 1
(a) (1) (i) Information from the agencies specified in this paragraph shall 2
be reported to the State Administrator in a format and at times prescribed by the State 3
Board. 4
(ii) The Maryland Department of Health shall report the names and 5
residence addresses (if known) of all individuals at least 16 years of age reported deceased 6
within the State since the date of the last report. 7
(iii) [Each month, the clerk of the circuit court for each county and 8
the administrative clerk for each District Court shall report the names and addresses of all 9
individuals convicted, in the respective court, of a felony and sentenced to imprisonment 10
with commitment papers. 11
(iv)] The clerk of the circuit court for each county shall report the 12
former and present names and residence addresses (if known) of all individuals whose 13
names have been changed by decree or order of the court since the date of the last report. 14
(2) [The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the clerk of 15
the United States District Court for the District of Maryland to receive reports of names 16
and addresses, if available, of individuals convicted of a felony in that court and sentenced 17
to imprisonment with commitment papers. 18
(3)] The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the United 19
States Social Security Administration or an entity that receives information from the Social 20
Security Administration and is approved by the State Administrator to receive reports of 21
names and addresses, if available, of all Maryland residents at least 16 years of age who 22
are reported deceased. 23
[16–202. 24
(a) A person who has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a 25
court–ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction, and has been rendered 26
ineligible to vote pursuant to § 3–102(b) of this article, may not vote or attempt to vote 27
during the time that the person is rendered ineligible to vote. 28
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to 29
imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years.] 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTH ER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2025. 32