Title 2. Powers and Duties of the State and Local Boards — Subtitle 2. Local Boards

There is a county board of elections in each county of the State.

Each local board and its staff is subject to the direction and authority of the State Board and is accountable to the State Board for its actions in all matters regarding the implementation of the requirements of this article and any applicable federal law.

be appointed in accordance with subsection (g) of this section;

be a registered voter in the county for which the individual is appointed for the 5 years immediately preceding the appointment; and

be eligible for reappointment.

The term of a member is 4 years and begins on the first Monday in June of each year following a gubernatorial election.

At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

The Governor shall request the county central committee representing the majority party or the principal minority party, as appropriate, to submit a list of at least four eligible individuals from which the Governor may make an appointment of a regular member of a local board or a substitute member of the local board.

The Governor may reject all of the nominees if the Governor determines them to be unfit or incompetent, in which case the Governor shall notify the State Board in writing and request an additional list of at least four eligible nominees from the county central committee. A third list may be requested in the same manner.

If a list containing the names of four eligible nominees is not submitted within 20 days of a request or if all the nominees on three lists are rejected, the Governor may appoint any eligible person who is a member of the appropriate political party.

Except in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, if a vacancy occurs on the local board, the Governor shall appoint an eligible person from the same political party as the predecessor member to fill the vacancy in accordance with subsection (g) of this section for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

An appointment made while the General Assembly is not in session shall be considered temporary until the appointee is confirmed by the General Assembly.

This subsection applies only in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.

In the event of the absence of a regular member or a vacancy in the office of a regular member, the substitute member of the same political party shall exercise the powers and duties of a regular member until the regular member returns or the vacancy is filled as prescribed in this subsection.

Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, if a member of a local board dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes ineligible:

In Prince George’s County, if a vacancy occurs on the local board among the members from the majority party, the Governor shall designate one of the substitute members from that party to fill the vacancy.

If a substitute member of a local board becomes a regular member as provided in paragraph (3)(i) of this subsection, dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes ineligible when the confirming legislative body is not in session, the Governor shall appoint an eligible person from the same political party as the predecessor substitute member to fill the vacancy. That individual shall serve until the earlier of:

oversee the conduct of all elections held in its county and ensure that the elections process is conducted in an open, convenient, and impartial manner;

in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, or its county merit system, whichever is applicable, appoint an election director to manage the operations and supervise the staff of the local board;

confer with the State Administrator in appointing an election director under item (2) of this subsection;

maintain an office and warehouse and be open for business as provided in this article, and, subject to § 9–106 of this article, provide the supplies and equipment necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of voter registration and election, including:

adopt any regulation it considers necessary to perform its duties under this article, which regulation shall become effective when it is filed with and approved by the State Board;

serve as the local board of canvassers and certify the results of each election conducted by the local board;

establish and alter the boundaries and number of precincts in accordance with § 2–303 of this title, and provide a suitable polling place for each precinct, and assign voters to precincts;

provide to the general public timely information and notice, by publication or mail, concerning voter registration and elections;

make determinations and hear and decide challenges and appeals as provided by law;

maintain and dispose of its records in accordance with the plan adopted by the State Board under § 2–106 of this title; and

administer voter registration and absentee voting for nursing homes and assisted living facilities in accordance with procedures established by the State Administrator, subject to the approval of the State Board.

evaluate the population of the county commissioner districts to determine whether the districts are of substantially equal population; and

recommend to the Garrett County Delegation to the General Assembly any adjustments of the boundaries of those districts that are necessary to maintain districts of substantially equal population.

in Allegany County, the amount set by the County Commissioners under Title 28, Subtitle 1 of the Local Government Article;

in Anne Arundel County, $5,000 for the president and $4,500 for other regular members;

in Baltimore City, $11,000 for the president and $10,000 for other regular members;

in Baltimore County, $4,000 for the president and $3,000 for other regular members;

in Calvert County, $3,000 and reimbursement for expenses in the performance of their duties;

in Caroline County, $3,250 for the president, $3,000 for other regular members, and reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of election duties in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations;

in Carroll County, $3,000;

in Cecil County, $1,250 for the president, $1,000 for other regular members, and reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of election activities which occur outside the county;

in Charles County, $800;

in Dorchester County, $3,000 and expenses as authorized by the County Commissioners;

in Frederick County, $5,500 for the president and $5,000 for other regular members;

in Garrett County, the amount set by the County Commissioners under Chapter 91 of the Public Local Laws of Garrett County;

in Harford County, $2,000 for the president and $1,700 for other regular members;

in Howard County, $2,800 for the president and $2,000 for other regular members;

in Kent County, $1,500 for the president and $1,500 for other regular members;

in Montgomery County, $5,000 for the president and $4,500 for other regular members;

in Prince George’s County, $5,000 for the president and $4,500 for other regular members;

in Queen Anne’s County, $1,500 for the president and $1,200 for other regular members;

in St. Mary’s County, $3,000;

in Somerset County, $1,000;

in Talbot County, $600;

in Washington County, the amount set by the County Commissioners;

in Wicomico County, $2,400 for the president and $1,800 for other regular members; and

in Worcester County, $1,500 for the president and $1,200 for other regular members.

Consistent with paragraph (2) of this subsection, each substitute member shall be compensated for each day of service as provided in the county budget.

A substitute member shall be compensated at a rate of at least $25 for each meeting of the local board that the substitute member attends.

a registered voter of the State; and

admitted to practice law in the State.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the salary of counsel shall be set by the local board in accordance with the county budget.

a security violation or significant attempted security violation, as those terms are defined in § 2–108 of this title, that impedes the proper and efficient operation of the local board; and

damage to the office, warehouse, voting system equipment, or other materials used to conduct an election;

This section applies to each employee of a local board.

This section does not apply to:

Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, if the employees of a local board are covered by its county merit system:

If the employees of a local board are not covered by its county merit system:

at least 48 hours in advance of each meeting; or

if the meeting is being held due to an emergency, a natural disaster, or any other unanticipated situation, as far in advance of the meeting as practicable.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each local board shall provide live video streaming of each open meeting held by the local board.

The live streaming video requirement under paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply with respect to: