Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions — Subtitle 3. General Provisions
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-301 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–301LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in computing the time under this article for performing an act, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be included.
(2)
In a computation of time under this article, the day of performing an act and the day of registration or election shall be excluded.
(b)
If a computation of time would require an act to be performed on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the act shall be performed on the next regular business day following that Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-302 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–302LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the filing of any document specified in this article may be made by electronic facsimile transmittal.
(b)
A document may not be filed by electronic facsimile transmittal if the document is required to contain a signed affidavit.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-303 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–303LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this section, “voter information material” means:
(1)
campaign literature that is campaign material under Title 13, Subtitle 4 of this article; or
(2)
registration or voting information issued by the State Board or a local board.
(b)
This section applies only:
(1)
in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County; and
(2)
to apartment buildings, condominiums, or other multifamily residential structures where access to the entrance of individual residential units is restricted by the owner or governing board of the entire structure.
(c)
(1)
The owner or governing board of a multifamily residential structure shall designate a public area within the structure where, for the 60–day period immediately prior to each primary election and general election, voter information material may be distributed or deposited.
(2)
The designated public area shall be readily accessible to the residents of the structure.
(3)
Voter information material deposited in the designated public area shall remain available for residents of the structure for a period of at least 10 days.
(d)
On written notification by a person whose rights under this section were violated, the local board shall:
(1)
notify the owner or governing board regarding the apparent violation and the requirements of this section; and
(2)
request compliance with the requirements of this section.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-303.1 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–303.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Baltimore City centralized booking facility” means the centralized booking facility in Baltimore City that is operated by the Division of Pretrial Detention and Services in the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
(3)
“Election–related materials” means documents and other items associated with the registering for and voting in an election, including:
(i)
absentee ballot applications;
(ii)
absentee ballots; and
(iii)
voter registration applications.
(4)
“Eligible voter” means an individual who:
(i)
is incarcerated at the Baltimore City centralized booking facility; and
(ii)
has the right to vote under State law.
(b)
The State Board shall adopt regulations in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide the following at the Baltimore City centralized booking facility in accordance with § 2–501 of the Correctional Services Article:
(1)
a secure, designated ballot drop box for election–related materials; and
(2)
written notifications on how and when eligible voters may use the ballot drop box.
(c)
(1)
The State Board shall provide the ballot drop box under subsection (b) of this section to the Baltimore City centralized booking facility in time to allow eligible voters sufficient opportunity to submit election–related materials before any election–related deadlines.
(2)
The local board of elections for Baltimore City shall provide staff to collect:
(i)
election–related materials submitted to the ballot drop box on at least a weekly basis; and
(ii)
the ballot drop box after an election–related deadline.
(3)
The local board of elections for Baltimore City shall distribute the election–related materials collected from the ballot drop box to the State Board or a local board, as appropriate and in a timely manner.
(d)
On or before January 1 each year, the local board of elections for Baltimore City shall submit a report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Appropriations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the following information submitted to the ballot drop box, disaggregated by each weekly collection from the ballot drop box and by the State Board or the local board that is the intended recipient of the election–related materials:
(1)
the number of absentee ballot applications received and accepted;
(2)
absentee ballots received and accepted; and
(3)
other election–related materials received.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-303.2 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–303.2LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Correctional facility” means a facility for detaining or confining individuals that is operated by a correctional unit.
(3)
“Correctional unit” has the meaning stated in § 2–401(b) of the Correctional Services Article.
(4)
“Eligible voter” means an individual who:
(i)
is incarcerated in a correctional facility; and
(ii)
has the right to vote under State law.
(b)
The State Board shall adopt regulations establishing a program to inform eligible voters of upcoming elections and how eligible voters may exercise the right to vote.
(c)
The regulations adopted under subsection (b) of this section shall require the State Board or local boards to:
(1)
disseminate information on eligibility requirements to register to vote and voter registration applications to eligible voters at least 30 days before the deadline to register to vote before each election;
(2)
disseminate instructions on absentee voting, absentee ballot applications, and absentee ballots before each election in a timely manner;
(3)
provide frequent opportunities for eligible voters to register to vote and to vote; and
(4)
provide for the timely return of voter registration applications, absentee ballot applications, and absentee ballots completed by eligible voters.
(d)
Each correctional facility shall cooperate fully with the State Board and the local boards in implementing the program required under this section.
(e)
On or before January 15 each year, the State Board shall submit a report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, that includes the following information, disaggregated by correctional facility:
(1)
the number of eligible voters who registered to vote, attempted to vote, and voted successfully by absentee ballot during the immediately preceding calendar year;
(2)
the number of times the State Board or a local board of elections visited each correctional facility during the immediately preceding calendar year, the duration of each visit, and a description of the work done at each correctional facility;
(3)
a description of any obstacles to implementing this section or § 2–501 of the Correctional Services Article; and
(4)
any recommendations for improving the implementation of this section or § 2–501 of the Correctional Services Article.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-304 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–304LinkCopy Citation
This article does not preempt restrictions on political activities that are:
(1)
provided in or authorized by the Montgomery County Charter; and
(2)
imposed on any of the following individuals:
(i)
an officer or employee of the Montgomery County government who serves in a quasi-judicial capacity; or
(ii)
a member of a Montgomery County government board or commission who serves in a quasi-judicial capacity.
Md. Code Ann., Election Law § 1-305 (2026)
Title 1. Definitions and General Provisions
Subtitle 3. General Provisions
§ 1–305LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The State Board or a local board may not consider a change in an administrative policy affecting voting rights at a meeting unless the board has posted a prominent public notice on its Web site at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting stating that the board will consider an administrative policy affecting voting rights at the meeting.
(b)
If the State Board or a local board adopts a change in an administrative policy affecting voting rights, the State Board and, if applicable, the local board that adopted the change shall provide reasonable public notice of the change as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
(c)
The public notice shall:
(1)
be in a reasonably convenient and accessible format;
(2)
be prominently posted on the Web site of the:
(i)
State Board; and
(ii)
local board that adopted the change, if applicable;
(3)
include a concise description of the change, including the difference between the new administrative policy affecting voting rights and the administrative policy affecting voting rights that was previously in effect; and
(4)
be provided within 48 hours of the adoption of the change.