In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Page” means a student selected by a local board participating in the Program to assist the local board and election judges in performing election day duties in a polling place on election day. “Program” means the Election Day Page Program.

There is an Election Day Page Program. The purpose of the Program is to: stimulate the interest of students in the election process; provide assistance to election judges in polling places on election day; and ensure the safe entry and exit of elderly voters and voters with disabilities from polling places. The State Board: shall develop a page training program for use by participating local boards that includes the duties, responsibilities, and prohibited conduct of pages at a polling place on election day; and may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.

A local board may participate in the Program. A participating local board shall implement or use components of the page training program developed by the State Board under § 10–402(c)(1) of this subtitle. A participating local board may request from the State Board a waiver from a requirement established under this subtitle. Each participating local board shall: be responsible for the staffing of and implementation of a page training program; ensure each page receives the required training before election day; and encourage individuals at least 16 years old who apply to the Program to train as an election judge. An individual may not work as a page in a polling place unless the individual has completed the training provided by the local board. Each participating local board, in collaboration with the local school system, shall establish a procedure for the selection of pages by the local board. Each participating local board may recognize and certify community service hours for pages. This section does not require a local board to participate in the Program.

To qualify as a page, an individual must: be at least 14 years old; apply to the local board in the individual’s county of residence; be available to work at least one full 4–hour shift on election day; and complete the required training before election day. A page may not: engage in any partisan activity while working at a polling place; or handle or touch a marked ballot at any time. A page may work up to two 4–hour shifts at a polling place on election day. Each page shall: serve under the direct supervision of the chief election judges for the assigned polling place; and assist election judges with election day duties, as directed.

Each page shall take and subscribe to a written oath. The signed oath, when returned to the local board, shall constitute the commission of the position of election day page. Each local board shall prescribe a form for the combined oath and commission required under this section.