EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0781*
HOUSE BILL 781
G1 5lr3046
CF SB 66
By: Delegates Roberts, Davis, Fennell, J. Long, Martinez, Roberson, Schmidt,
Taylor, Vogel, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Polling Place Procedures – Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters 2
With Disabilities 3
(Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland) 4
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Elections to establish guidelines for the 5
local boards of election to implement a process to accommodate and expedite voting 6
for elderly voters and voters with disabilities at each early voting center and polling 7
place; requiring the local boards to implement the guidelines and collect feedback on 8
the process from elderly voters and voters with disabilities and make immediate 9
adjustments to the process; requiring the training program for election judges to 10
include instruction on best practices for assisting elderly voters and voters with 11
disabilities; and generally relating to in–person voting by elderly voters and voters 12
with disabilities. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – Election Law 15
Section 1–101(a) and (u) and 10–206(e) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – Election Law 20
Section 10–206(f) and 10–310.1 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – Election Law 25
Section 10–206(f) and (g) 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27 2 HOUSE BILL 781
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Election Law 4
1–101. 5
(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless a 6
different meaning is clearly intended from the context. 7
(u) “Elderly” means 65 years of age or older. 8
10–206. 9
(e) The State Board shall provide election judges with uniform statewide training 10
on the voting system, including: 11
(1) all features of the voting system that provide access to voters with 12
disabilities; and 13
(2) the rights of voters with disabilities, including those rights guaranteed 14
by State and federal law. 15
(F) THE TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE INSTRU CTION ON BEST 16
PRACTICES FOR ASSIST ING ELDERLY VOTERS A ND VOTERS WITH DISAB ILITIES, AS 17
DEFINED IN THE FEDER AL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS REQUIRED 18
UNDER § 10–310.1 OF THIS TITLE. 19
[(f)] (G) Each local board shall conduct election judge training based on the 20
program developed by the State Board. 21
[(g)] (H) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each 22
election judge shall participate in the training program provided for in subsection (a) of this 23
section. 24
(2) An election judge who is appointed under emergency circumstances is 25
not required to attend the course of instruction. 26
10–310.1. 27
(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCAL 28
BOARDS TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS TO ACCOMMO DATE AND EXPEDITE VO TING FOR 29
ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH DISABILIT IES, AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL 30 HOUSE BILL 781 3
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AT EACH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND 1
POLLING PLACE I N THE STATE. 2
(B) THE GUIDELINES ESTABL ISHED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER 3
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L INCLUDE: 4
(1) DEDICATED EXPEDITED LINES FOR ELDERLY VO TERS AND 5
VOTERS WITH DISABILI TIES; 6
(2) CLEARLY MARKED SIGNA GE INDICATING THE AV AILABILITY OF 7
EXPEDITED SERVICES ; 8
(3) PRIORITY SEATING FOR ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH 9
DISABILITIES IN WAIT ING AREAS; AND 10
(4) SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR HIGH –TRAFFIC EARLY VOTING 11
CENTERS AND POLLING PLACES. 12
(C) THE LOCAL BOARDS SHAL L: 13
(1) IMPLEMENT THE GU IDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE 14
BOARD UNDER SUBSECTIO N (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
(2) COLLECT FEEDBACK FRO M ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH 16
DISABILITIES ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND E XPEDITED VOTING PROC ESS WHILE 17
VOTING AT EARLY VOTI NG CENTERS AND POLLI NG PLACES IS IN PROGRESS AND 18
MAKE IMMEDIATE ADJUS TMENTS TO THE PROCES S AS NECESSARY. 19
(D) THE STATE BOARD SHALL MONITOR T HE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 20
GUIDELINES ESTABLISH ED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION BY T HE LOCAL 21
BOARDS AND SUBMIT A REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 EACH YEAR TO THE 22
GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACCORDANC E WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 23
ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES : 24
(1) ANY CHALLENGES TO IM PLEMENTING THE GUIDE LINES; 25
(2) AN ANALYSIS OF THE E FFECTIVENESS OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS 26
AND EXPEDITED VOTI NG PROCESS; 27
(3) A SUMMARY OF FEEDBAC K ON THE ACCOMMODATI ONS AND 28
EXPEDITED VOTING PRO CESS FROM ELDERLY VO TERS AND VOTERS WITH 29
DISABILITIES; AND 30
4 HOUSE BILL 781
(4) ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE GUIDE LINES. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the guidel ines required under 2
§ 10–310.1 of the Election Law Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act: 3
(1) shall be implemented beginning with the statewide primary election 4
held in 2026; and 5
(2) are not required to be implemented for any special elections that may 6
occur before the statewide primary election held in 2026. 7
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2025. 9