EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0066*
SENATE BILL 66
G1 5lr1468
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Ellis
Requested: October 29, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
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 SENATE BILL 66
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED B Y 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 ASSISTING ELDERLY VO TERS AND VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES, AS 17
DEFINED IN THE FEDERAL 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 L OCAL 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 SENATE BILL 66 3
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AT EACH EARLY VOTING CE NTER AND 1
POLLING PLACE IN THE STATE. 2
(B) THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER 3
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE: 4
(1) DEDICATED EXPEDITED LINES FOR ELDERLY VOTERS 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 GUIDELINES ESTABLISH ED BY THE STATE 14
BOARD UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
(2) COLLECT FEEDBACK FRO M ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH 16
DISABILITIES ON THE ACCOMMODATION S AND EXPEDITED VOTI NG PROCESS WHILE 17
VOTING AT EARLY VOTI NG CENTERS AND POLLI NG PLACES IS IN PROG RESS AND 18
MAKE IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE P ROCESS 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 THE 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 IMPLEMENTING THE GUI DELINES; 25
(2) AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS 26
AND EXPEDITED VOTING 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 SENATE BILL 66
(4) ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE GUIDELIN ES. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the guidelines 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