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<section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="10-301.1" future_version_removed="true" title_number="10" title_name="Polling Places" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Polling Place Procedures">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Except as provided under Title 9, Subtitle 3 of this article, during any regularly scheduled primary or general election a voter may vote:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in the voter’s assigned precinct on election day; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>at an early voting center in the voter’s county of residence on any early voting day in accordance with this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each county shall have at least one early voting center established in the county as prescribed in this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A county with fewer than 50,000 registered voters shall have one early voting center established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A county with at least 50,000 registered voters but fewer than 100,000 registered voters shall have two early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A county with at least 100,000 registered voters but fewer than 200,000 registered voters shall have three early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A county with at least 200,000 registered voters but fewer than 300,000 registered voters shall have five early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>A county with at least 300,000 registered voters but fewer than 400,000 registered voters shall have seven early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>A county with at least 400,000 registered voters but fewer than 500,000 registered voters shall have nine early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>A county with at least 500,000 registered voters but fewer than 600,000 registered voters shall have 11 early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>A county with at least 600,000 registered voters shall have 13 early voting centers established in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>In addition to the early voting centers required in this subsection, each county may establish one additional early voting center if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>first, the local board and the governing body of the county agree to establish an additional early voting center; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>then, the State Board approves the establishment of the additional early voting center.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Each early voting center shall be open for voting as follows:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>beginning the second Thursday before a primary or general election through the Thursday before the election; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>during the hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. each early voting day.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each early voting center shall satisfy the requirements of § 10–101 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the public official responsible for the use of a public building requested by a local board for an early voting center shall make the public building available to the local board in accordance with § 10–101(a)(3) of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The State Board shall adopt regulations that establish an appeals process for public officials responsible for public buildings requested for use under paragraph (2) of this subsection to contest the availability of the public building during the period of time the building would be used as an early voting center.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The appeals process established under this paragraph shall include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>an initial appeal to the local board that selected the public building for use as an early voting center;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>an opportunity for a public official to be heard publicly at a meeting of the local board before the local board makes a decision on the appeal;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>an appeal by a public official of an adverse decision of the local board to the State Board;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>an opportunity for a public official to be heard publicly at a meeting of the State Board before the State Board makes a final decision on the appeal; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>a final decision at least 8 months before the primary election for which the local board seeks to use the public building as an early voting center.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The decision of the State Board regarding an appeal under this paragraph is final.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Beginning 30 days prior to each early voting period the State Board and each local board shall undertake steps to inform the public about early voting and the location of early voting centers in each county, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>a series of public service media announcements;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>mailings to all registered voters in each county; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>other measures as appropriate.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Except as expressly provided in this section, any provision of this article that applies to voting on election day also applies to early voting.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The State Board shall adopt regulations and guidelines in accordance with the requirements of this section for the conduct of early voting.</text>
  </level>
</section>
