An individual may apply to become a registered voter: at a local board office or the State Board office; at a registration site administered by a local board; by mail; when applying to the Motor Vehicle Administration for the issuance, renewal, or modification of a driver’s license or identification card; when applying for services at a voter registration agency; through the State Board’s online voter registration system; or with the assistance of a volunteer authorized by the State or local board. An individual who is at least 18 years old or will be 18 years old on or before the day of the next succeeding general or special election may be a volunteer under subsection (a)(7) of this section.

The statewide voter registration application shall: require the signature of the applicant, subject to the penalties of perjury, by which the applicant swears or affirms that the information contained in the registration application is true and that the applicant meets all of the qualifications to become a registered voter; state the penalties for the submission of a false application; and provide the applicant with the opportunity to cancel a current registration. The following information shall be made available to each applicant who is completing a statewide voter registration application: the qualifications to become a registered voter; if an individual declines to register, this fact will remain confidential and be used only for voter registration purposes; if an individual registers to vote, the office at which the application is submitted will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and notification to the applicant that submission of the form to an individual other than an official, employee, or agent of a local board does not assure that the form will be filed or filed in a timely manner. The statewide voter registration application may not require: notarization or other formal authentication; or any additional information, other than the information necessary to enable election officials to determine the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration and other parts of the election process. In the section of the statewide voter registration application that asks the voter whether the voter wants to affiliate with a political party, the application shall list the recognized political parties in the State and include the following statement: “You must register with a political party if you want to take part in that political party’s primary election, caucus, or convention. Check one box only.”. A statewide voter registration application shall be produced exclusively by the State Board. No other registration form may be used for registration purposes except: a voter registration application produced by a local board with the approval of the State Board; as provided in subsection (b) of this section; as provided in § 3–203(b) of this subtitle; any other form prescribed by federal law for voter registration; or a federal write–in absentee ballot if used by a voter authorized to vote a federal write–in absentee ballot under federal law. The voter registration application form prescribed pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 shall satisfy the requirements prescribed under subsection (a) of this section and be accepted by the appropriate election official for purposes of voter registration. The application described in this section may be used by a registered voter to change the voter’s name, address, or party affiliation.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Common access card” means the identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense to active–duty members of the uniformed services, eligible members of a reserve component, Department of Defense civilian employees, and eligible Department of Defense contractor personnel. “Federal post card application” means the form prescribed under 52 U.S.C. § 20301(b)(2) that may be used by absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to simultaneously apply to register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot. “Reserve component” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article. The State Board shall establish a process for an individual to: submit the federal post card application electronically; and use a common access card to sign the federal post card application. The process required to be established under subsection (b) of this section: may allow the use of a common access card only for the purpose of verifying identity and allowing an individual to fulfill the signature requirement on the federal post card application; and may not allow an individual to apply to register to vote solely using the common access card.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Applicable transaction” means: at the Motor Vehicle Administration, an initial application for or renewal of a driver’s license or identification card, or a change of name or address on an existing driver’s license or identification card, or any other transaction in which the Motor Vehicle Administration obtains all of the information from an applicant that satisfies the requirements to register to vote; at the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, any application for or renewal of health insurance coverage; at a local department of social services, an initial application for a State or federally funded public assistance program or an application for a recertification, renewal, or change of name or address relating to a State or federally funded public assistance program; or at the Mobility Certification Office in the Maryland Transit Administration, an initial application for paratransit service or an application for recertification for paratransit service. “Applicable transaction” includes any transaction described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph that is completed online. “Automatic voter registration agency” means: the Motor Vehicle Administration; the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; local departments of social services; and the Mobility Certification Office in the Maryland Transit Administration. “Automatic voter registration system” means a system that, as an integral part of each applicable transaction at an automatic voter registration agency: informs an applicant: that the applicant shall be registered to vote or shall have a voter registration record updated, if applicable, unless the applicant declines to register to vote or update a voter registration record or if the applicant is not eligible to register to vote; of the qualifications to register to vote under § 3–102 of this title; that the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet all the qualifications; of the penalties for the submission of a false application; and that voter registration is voluntary and that neither registering nor declining to register to vote will in any way affect the availability of services or benefits; requires the electronic signature of the applicant, subject to the penalties for perjury, by which the applicant attests that the information provided by the applicant is true and that the applicant meets all the qualifications to become a registered voter, including United States citizenship; and electronically transmits the voter registration information of each applicant who does not decline to register to vote or update a voter registration record directly to the State Board: in a manner and format specified jointly by the automatic voter registration agency and the State Board; and within 5 days of the applicable transaction. “Local department of social services” means: the local departments of social services in the Department of Human Services; and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an automatic voter registration agency shall implement an automatic voter registration system on or before July 1, 2019. A local department of social services shall implement an automatic voter registration system on or before December 1, 2019. An automatic voter registration system: may not require any information that duplicates the information required to complete an applicable transaction; shall require only the minimum amount of information necessary for both an applicable transaction and a voter registration to: prevent duplicate voter registration; and enable election officials to review the eligibility of an applicant and to administer voter registration and other aspects of the election process; and shall inform an applicant that if the applicant does not select a political party affiliation, the individual will be designated as not affiliated with a political party and will be unable to vote in a party primary election. An agent of an automatic voter registration agency who is responsible for carrying out the requirements of this section may not: seek to influence an applicant’s political preference or party registration; display any political preference or party allegiance; or make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to: discourage the applicant from registering to vote; or lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits. The State Board shall ensure that each individual whose voter registration information is transmitted to the State Board through an automatic voter registration system is promptly registered to vote. If the State Board receives notice from an individual that the individual was inadvertently registered to vote through an automatic voter registration agency after declining to register to vote, the State Board shall correct the error in accordance with § 3–601.1 of this title. Voter registration information or information relating to the decision of an applicant at an automatic voter registration agency to decline to register to vote may not be used for any purpose other than the maintenance of registration statistics, election administration, or prosecution of criminal violations of the election law. Notwithstanding § 3–501 of this title and § 4–401 of the General Provisions Article, the identity of an automatic voter registration agency through which a particular voter has registered may not be disclosed to the public. The State Board may adopt regulations as necessary to implement this section. Each automatic voter registration agency shall: on or before July 1, 2019, submit a report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Committee on Ways and Means that describes: the efforts of the automatic voter registration agency to register voters in the preceding calendar year; and the implementation of an automatic voter registration system; and on or before January 1, 2020, and January 1 each subsequent year, submit a report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Committee on Ways and Means that describes: the number of individuals who completed an applicable transaction in the preceding calendar year at the automatic voter registration agency and the number of those individuals who registered to vote or updated a voter registration record; and any efforts the automatic voter registration agency plans to make to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the voter registration process at the agency. The Department of Human Services shall consolidate and submit the reports required under paragraph (1)(i) and (ii) of this subsection as a single document on behalf of all the local departments of social services.

The State Board shall designate public agencies and nongovernmental agencies as voter registration agencies where qualified individuals may apply to register to vote. The State Board shall designate the following offices as voter registration agencies: all offices in the State that provide public assistance; all offices in the State that provide State–funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to individuals with disabilities; all public institutions of higher education in the State; and all one–stop career centers in the Maryland Department of Labor. The State Board and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly develop and implement procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States, which shall be deemed voter registration agencies. A voter registration agency that is subject to the requirements of § 3–203 of this subtitle: shall conduct voter registration in the manner specified in § 3–203 of this subtitle; and is not subject to the requirements of this section. Except for a public institution of higher education in the State, which institution shall comply with the requirements of subsection (c) of this section and § 3–204.2(f) of this subtitle, each voter registration agency, as provided in subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section, shall: distribute a voter registration application approved by the State Board or the Federal Election Commission with each application for service or assistance it renders and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to such service or assistance; provide a document to prospective registrants that includes: the question, “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?”; if the agency provides public assistance, the statement, “Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.”; boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would like to register or declines to register to vote together with the statement (in close proximity to the boxes and in prominent type), “If you do not check either box, you will be considered to have decided not to register to vote at this time.”; the statement, “If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.”; the statement, “If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the State Board of Elections.”; and the address and toll free telephone number of the State Board; provide each applicant who does not decline to register to vote and who accepts assistance the same degree of assistance with regard to completion of the registration application as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of its own applications, unless the applicant refuses such assistance; ensure that each application for service or assistance from the agency and each recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance may not be completed until the applicant has indicated whether the applicant wishes to register to vote and is informed that if the applicant does not select a political party affiliation, the individual will be designated as not affiliated with a political party and will be unable to vote in a party primary election; and accept the completed voter registration application for transmittal to the appropriate election board. A public institution of higher education shall designate a staff member as the student voting coordinator. The student voting coordinator shall develop and implement a student voting plan to increase student voter registration and voting in collaboration with faculty, staff, recognized student organizations, and other appropriate stakeholders at the institution. The student voting plan shall: cover the 2–year period immediately preceding each statewide general election; and be updated after each statewide general election. The student voting plan shall include: wide dissemination of information about voter registration and voting opportunities to all students, including: the voter registration process and deadlines; the process and deadlines for requesting and returning a ballot by mail; locations and dates for early voting and election day voting, including transportation options to the voting locations; information about voter registration at early voting centers under § 3–305 of this title and voter registration at precinct polling places on election day under § 3–306 of this title; and a link from the institution’s online student portal to the webpage concerning student voter registration and voting that is maintained by the State Board under § 3–103 of this title or a webpage on the student portal that includes the same information as the webpage maintained by the State Board; provision of voter registration materials at central locations and high–traffic areas on campus; reasonable accommodation and collaboration with the local board regarding: the placement of an early voting center or precinct polling place on campus if requested by the local board; parking; campaign signs; voter access to campus without identification; polling place space requirements in compliance with State Board regulations; public education campaign; ballot drop box siting; and any other factors relating to the conduct of an election; encouragement and support of recognized student organizations engaged in activities to increase voter registration and voting by students; and any other activities to promote student participation in civic affairs and the election process that the institution determines are appropriate. The student voting plan may not be used to disseminate information regarding: how a student should vote; or who a student should vote for. A public institution of higher education shall: make the institution’s student voting plan available to the public on the institution’s website; and provide the institution’s student voting plan to the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the State Board. An applicant may mail the voter registration application to the appropriate State election official or return it to the voter registration agency for transmittal to the appropriate election official. Within 5 days from the acceptance of a voter registration application, the voter registration agency shall forward the application to the appropriate State election official. An applicant registering to vote at a voter registration agency may affirmatively consent to the use of the individual’s electronic signature that is on file with the voter registration agency as the individual’s signature for the application being submitted. If an applicant signs a voter registration application as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the voter registration agency shall transmit an electronic copy of the applicant’s signature to the State Board within 5 days after the day on which the agency accepted the application. If a voter registration agency is an office described in subsection (a)(2)(ii) of this section, which provides services to an individual with a disability at the individual’s home, the agency shall provide the services described in subsection (b) of this section at the individual’s home. An individual who provides any service described in subsection (b) of this section may not: seek to influence an applicant’s political preference or party registration; display any political preference or party allegiance; or make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits. No information relating to a declination to register to vote in connection with an application made at an office designated as a voter registration agency may be used for any purpose other than the maintenance of voter registration statistics. Notwithstanding § 3–501 of this title and § 4–401 of the General Provisions Article, the identity of a voter registration agency through which a particular voter has registered may not be disclosed to the public. Regulations necessary to carry out the requirements of this section and § 3–203 of this subtitle, including provisions for training the employees of voter registration agencies and the Motor Vehicle Administration, shall be adopted by the State Board in cooperation with each agency.

The State Board may operate an online voter registration system that allows an individual to electronically: apply to become a registered voter; or change the individual’s name, address, or party affiliation in the individual’s existing voter registration record. To apply to register to vote through the online voter registration system, an individual shall: complete the electronic voter registration application; affirmatively attest, subject to the penalties of perjury, that the information contained in the voter registration application is true and that the applicant meets all of the qualifications to become a registered voter; provide one of the following: a Maryland driver’s license number or Maryland identification card number, the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number, and other information identified by the State Board that is not generally available to the public but is readily available to the individual; or if the individual is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and does not have a Maryland driver’s license or Maryland identification card, a Social Security number; and affirmatively consent to the use of one of the following as the individual’s signature for the application being submitted: the electronic copy of the individual’s signature that is on file with the Motor Vehicle Administration; or the individual’s Social Security number. To change an individual’s name, address, or party affiliation in the individual’s existing voter registration record, an individual shall: complete the electronic voter registration application; affirmatively attest, subject to the penalties of perjury, that the information contained in the voter registration application is true and that the applicant meets all of the qualifications to be a registered voter; provide one of the following: a Maryland driver’s license number or Maryland identification card number, the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number, and other information identified by the State Board that is not generally available to the public but is readily available to the individual; or if the individual is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and does not have a Maryland driver’s license or Maryland identification card, a Social Security number; and affirmatively consent to the use of one of the following as the individual’s signature for the application being submitted: the electronic copy of the individual’s signature that is on file with the Motor Vehicle Administration; or the individual’s Social Security number. The Motor Vehicle Administration shall transmit an electronic copy of an individual’s driver’s license or identification card signature to the State Board within 5 days of being notified by the State Board that the individual submitted a voter registration application through the online voter registration system. The State Board may: take any additional measures it deems necessary to ensure the integrity and accuracy of voter registration applications submitted through the online voter registration system; and adopt any regulations necessary to administer the online voter registration system.

The State Board and the Department of Natural Resources shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who apply for the issuance or renewal of a license, permit, or certificate online to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system. The State Board and the Maryland Department of Labor shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who use the Maryland Workforce Exchange website to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system. The State Board and the Department of Veterans and Military Families shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who use the Department of Veterans and Military Families website or who are contacted by the Department’s outreach and advocacy program to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system. In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated. “Applicable transaction” means an online application for a State or federally funded public assistance program or an online application for a recertification, renewal, or change of name or address relating to a State or federally funded public assistance program. “Department” means the Department of Human Services. “Electronic portal” means the Department’s online system, known as MyDHR, through which an individual may complete an applicable transaction. Pending the implementation of an automatic voter registration system under § 3–203 of this subtitle, the State Board and the Department shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who use the Department’s electronic portal to complete an applicable transaction to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system. The State Board and the State Comptroller shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who file a Maryland resident individual income tax return electronically to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system. In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated. “Association” means the Maryland Independent College and University Association. “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Each public institution of higher education and each private nonprofit institution of higher education that receives operating or capital funding from the State shall provide a link to the online voter registration system on the home page of the online portal used by students to register for course work. The link to the online voter registration system shall be prominently placed on the home page in a location where it may be easily viewed by students registering for course work. If there are fewer than 15 clicks on the link in any calendar year, the institution of higher education shall relocate the link to a different, more conspicuous location for the immediately following calendar year and take any other appropriate steps to encourage students to use the link. On or before January 1 each year, each public institution of higher education shall submit a report to the Commission that includes: the number of individuals who clicked on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year; if there were fewer than 15 clicks on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year a description of any appropriate steps the institution is taking to encourage students to use the link; and any efforts the public institution of higher education plans to make to improve access to voter registration for students at the institution. On or before January 15 each year, the Commission shall compile and summarize the information reported by public institutions of higher education under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in a single report and submit the report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. On or before January 1 each year, each private nonprofit institution of higher education that receives operating or capital funding from the State and is a member of the Association shall submit a report to the Association that includes: the number of individuals who clicked on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year; if there were fewer than 15 clicks on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year, a description of any appropriate steps the institution is taking to encourage students to use the link; and any efforts the private nonprofit institution of higher education plans to make to improve access to voter registration for students at the institution. On or before January 15 each year, the Association shall compile and summarize the information reported by its members under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in a single report and submit the report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.

A voter registration volunteer or any individual assisting another individual to register to vote may not: copy or collect the following information contained on a voter registration application: Maryland driver’s license number; Maryland identification number; Social Security number; or other information from a voter registration application that is protected from public disclosure; use any voter registration information for a purpose inconsistent with § 3–506 of this title; and receive any form of compensation, including bonuses, that is based on the number of voter registration applications collected.