MD
Maryland House Bill HB781

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB781 Compare Versions

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33 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
44 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5- Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6- Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7-amendment.
85 *hb0781*
96
107 HOUSE BILL 781
118 G1 5lr3046
129 CF SB 66
1310 By: Delegates Roberts, Davis, Fennell, J. Long, Martinez, Roberson, Schmidt,
1411 Taylor, Vogel, and Woods
1512 Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2025
1613 Assigned to: Ways and Means
17-Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
18-House action: Adopted
19-Read second time: March 6, 2025
2014
21-CHAPTER ______
15+A BILL ENTITLED
2216
2317 AN ACT concerning 1
2418
2519 Election Law – Polling Place Procedures – Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters 2
2620 With Disabilities 3
2721 (Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland) 4
2822
2923 FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Elections to establish guidelines for the 5
3024 local boards of election to implement a process to accommodate and expedite voting 6
3125 for elderly voters and voters with disabilities at each early voting center and polling 7
3226 place; requiring the local boards to implement the guidelines and collect feedback on 8
3327 the process from elderly voters and voters with disabilities and make immediate 9
3428 adjustments to the process; requiring the training program for election judges to 10
35-include instruction on best practices for assisting the guidelines for expediting voting 11
36-for elderly voters and voters with disabilities; and generally relating to in–person 12
37-voting by elderly voters and voters with disabilities. 13
29+include instruction on best practices for assisting elderly voters and voters with 11
30+disabilities; and generally relating to in–person voting by elderly voters and voters 12
31+with disabilities. 13
3832
3933 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
4034 Article – Election Law 15
4135 Section 1–101(a) and (u) and 10–206(e) 16
4236 Annotated Code of Maryland 17
4337 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
4438
4539 BY adding to 19
4640 Article – Election Law 20
4741 Section 10–206(f) and 10–310.1 21
48- Annotated Code of Maryland 22 2 HOUSE BILL 781
42+ Annotated Code of Maryland 22
43+ (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23
44+
45+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
46+ Article – Election Law 25
47+Section 10–206(f) and (g) 26
48+ Annotated Code of Maryland 27 2 HOUSE BILL 781
4949
5050
5151 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
5252
53-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 2
54- Article – Election Law 3
55-Section 10–206(f) and (g) 4
56- Annotated Code of Maryland 5
57- (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 6
53+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
54+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
5855
59- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
60-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 8
56+Article – Election Law 4
6157
62-Article – Election Law 9
58+1–101. 5
6359
64-1–101. 10
60+ (a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless a 6
61+different meaning is clearly intended from the context. 7
6562
66- (a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless a 11
67-different meaning is clearly intended from the context. 12
63+ (u) “Elderly” means 65 years of age or older. 8
6864
69- (u) “Elderly” means 65 years of age or older. 13
65+10–206. 9
7066
71-10–206. 14
67+ (e) The State Board shall provide election judges with uniform statewide training 10
68+on the voting system, including: 11
7269
73- (e) The State Board shall provide election judges with uniform statewide training 15
74-on the voting system, including: 16
70+ (1) all features of the voting system that provide access to voters with 12
71+disabilities; and 13
7572
76- (1) all features of the voting system that provide access to voters with 17
77-disabilities; and 18
73+ (2) the rights of voters with disabilities, including those rights guaranteed 14
74+by State and federal law. 15
7875
79- (2) the rights of voters with disabilities, including those rights guaranteed 19
80-by State and federal law. 20
76+ (F) THE TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE INSTRU CTION ON BEST 16
77+PRACTICES FOR ASSIST ING ELDERLY VOTERS A ND VOTERS WITH DISAB ILITIES, AS 17
78+DEFINED IN THE FEDER AL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS REQUIRED 18
79+UNDER § 10–310.1 OF THIS TITLE. 19
8180
82- (F) THE TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE INSTRU CTION ON BEST 21
83-PRACTICES FOR ASSIST ING THE GUIDELINES FOR E XPEDITING VOTING FOR 22
84-ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH DISABILIT IES, AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL 23
85-AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS REQUIRED ESTABLISHED UNDER § 24
86-10–310.1 OF THIS TITLE. 25
81+ [(f)] (G) Each local board shall conduct election judge training based on the 20
82+program developed by the State Board. 21
8783
88- [(f)] (G) Each local board shall conduct election judge training based on the 26
89-program developed by the State Board. 27
84+ [(g)] (H) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each 22
85+election judge shall participate in the training program provided for in subsection (a) of this 23
86+section. 24
9087
91- [(g)] (H) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each 28
92-election judge shall participate in the training program provided for in subsection (a) of this 29
93-section. 30
88+ (2) An election judge who is appointed under emergency circumstances is 25
89+not required to attend the course of instruction. 26
9490
95- (2) An election judge who is appointed under emergency circumstances is 31
96-not required to attend the course of instruction. 32 HOUSE BILL 781 3
91+10–310.1. 27
92+
93+ (A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCAL 28
94+BOARDS TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS TO ACCOMMO DATE AND EXPEDITE VO TING FOR 29
95+ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH DISABILIT IES, AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL 30 HOUSE BILL 781 3
9796
9897
98+AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AT EACH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND 1
99+POLLING PLACE I N THE STATE. 2
99100
100-10–310.1. 1
101+ (B) THE GUIDELINES ESTABL ISHED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER 3
102+SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L INCLUDE: 4
101103
102- (A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCAL 2
103-BOARDS TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS TO ACCOMMODATE AND EXPEDITE VOTING FOR 3
104-ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH DISABILIT IES, AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL 4
105-AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AT EACH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND 5
106-POLLING PLACE IN THE STATE. 6
104+ (1) DEDICATED EXPEDITED LINES FOR ELDERLY VO TERS AND 5
105+VOTERS WITH DISABILI TIES; 6
107106
108- (B) THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISH ED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER 7
109-SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L INCLUDE: 8
107+ (2) CLEARLY MARKED SIGNA GE INDICATING THE AV AILABILITY OF 7
108+EXPEDITED SERVICES ; 8
110109
111- (1) DEDICATED EXPEDITED LINES FOR ELDERLY VO TERS AND 9
112-VOTERS WITH DISABILI TIES; AND 10
110+ (3) PRIORITY SEATING FOR ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH 9
111+DISABILITIES IN WAIT ING AREAS; AND 10
113112
114- (2) CLEARLY MARKED SIGNA GE INDICATING THE AV AILABILITY OF 11
115-EXPEDITED SERV ICES; 12
113+ (4) SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR HIGH –TRAFFIC EARLY VOTING 11
114+CENTERS AND POLLING PLACES. 12
116115
117- (3) PRIORITY SEATING FOR ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH 13
118-DISABILITIES IN WAIT ING AREAS; AND 14
116+ (C) THE LOCAL BOARDS SHAL L: 13
119117
120- (4) SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR HIGH –TRAFFIC EARLY VOTING 15
121-CENTERS AND POLLING PLACES. 16
118+ (1) IMPLEMENT THE GU IDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE 14
119+BOARD UNDER SUBSECTIO N (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
122120
123- (C) THE LOCAL BOARDS SHAL L: 17
121+ (2) COLLECT FEEDBACK FRO M ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH 16
122+DISABILITIES ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND E XPEDITED VOTING PROC ESS WHILE 17
123+VOTING AT EARLY VOTI NG CENTERS AND POLLI NG PLACES IS IN PROGRESS AND 18
124+MAKE IMMEDIATE ADJUS TMENTS TO THE PROCES S AS NECESSARY. 19
124125
125- (1) IMPLEMENT THE GUIDEL INES ESTABLISH ED BY THE STATE 18
126-BOARD UNDER SUBSECTIO N (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 19
126+ (D) THE STATE BOARD SHALL MONITOR T HE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 20
127+GUIDELINES ESTABLISH ED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION BY T HE LOCAL 21
128+BOARDS AND SUBMIT A REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 EACH YEAR TO THE 22
129+GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACCORDANC E WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 23
130+ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES : 24
127131
128- (2) COLLECT FEEDBACK FRO M ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH 20
129-DISABILITIES ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND E XPEDITED VOTING PROC ESS WHILE 21
130-VOTING AT EARLY VOTI NG CENTERS AND POLLI NG PLACES IS IN PROGRESS AND 22
131-MAKE IMMEDIATE ADJUS TMENTS TO THE PROCES S AS NECESSARY. 23
132+ (1) ANY CHALLENGES TO IM PLEMENTING THE GUIDE LINES; 25
132133
133- (D) THE STATE BOARD SHALL MONITOR T HE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 24
134-GUIDELINES ESTABLISH ED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION BY T HE LOCAL 25
135-BOARDS AND SUBMIT A REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 EACH YEAR 26
136-IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWIN G A STATEWIDE ELECTI ON TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 27
137-ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE THAT 28
138-INCLUDES: 29
134+ (2) AN ANALYSIS OF THE E FFECTIVENESS OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS 26
135+AND EXPEDITED VOTI NG PROCESS; 27
139136
140- (1) ANY CHALLENGES TO IM PLEMENTING THE GUIDE LINES; AND 30
137+ (3) A SUMMARY OF FEEDBAC K ON THE ACCOMMODATI ONS AND 28
138+EXPEDITED VOTING PRO CESS FROM ELDERLY VO TERS AND VOTERS WITH 29
139+DISABILITIES; AND 30
141140 4 HOUSE BILL 781
142141
143142
144- (2) AN ANALYSIS OF THE E FFECTIVENESS OF TH E ACCOMMODATIONS 1
145-AND EXPEDITED VOTING PROCESS; 2
143+ (4) ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE GUIDE LINES. 1
146144
147- (3) A SUMMARY OF FEEDBAC K ON THE ACCOMMODATI ONS AND 3
148-EXPEDITED VOTING PRO CESS FROM ELDERLY VO TERS AND VOTERS WITH 4
149-DISABILITIES; AND 5
145+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the guidel ines required under 2
146+§ 10–310.1 of the Election Law Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act: 3
150147
151- (4) (2) ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE GUIDE LINES. 6
148+ (1) shall be implemented beginning with the statewide primary election 4
149+held in 2026; and 5
152150
153- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the guidelines required under 7
154-§ 10–310.1 of the Election Law Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act: 8
151+ (2) are not required to be implemented for any special elections that may 6
152+occur before the statewide primary election held in 2026. 7
155153
156- (1) shall be implemented beginning with the statewide primary election 9
157-held in 2026; and 10
154+ SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
155+1, 2025. 9
158156
159- (2) are not required to be implemented for any special elections that may 11
160-occur before the statewide primary election held in 2026. 12
161-
162- SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
163-1, 2025. 14
164-
165-
166-
167-
168-Approved:
169-________________________________________________________________________________
170- Governor.
171-________________________________________________________________________________
172- Speaker of the House of Delegates.
173-________________________________________________________________________________
174- President of the Senate.