# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 3. Voter Registration

### Subtitle 5. Statewide Voter Registration List

#### Section 3-501

An election director may remove a voter from the statewide voter registration list only:

(1) at the request of the voter, provided the request is:

  (i) signed by the voter;

  (ii) authenticated by the election director; and

  (iii) in a format acceptable to the State Board or on a cancellation notice provided by the voter on a voter registration application;

(2) upon determining, based on information provided pursuant to  Sec. 3-504 of this subtitle, that the voter is no longer eligible because:

  (i) the voter is not qualified to be a registered voter as provided in Sec. 3-102(b) of this title; or

  (ii) the voter is deceased;

(3) if the voter has moved outside the State, as determined by conducting the procedures established in Sec. 3-502 of this subtitle; or

(4) if, in accordance with the administrative complaint process under Sec. 3-602 of this title, the State Administrator or the State Administrator's designee has determined that the voter is not qualified to be registered to vote.

#### Section 3-502

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Confirmation notice" means a notice, approved by the State Board, that is sent by forwardable mail with a return card.

  (3) "Return card" means a postage prepaid and preaddressed card on which the voter may report the voter's current address.

(b) Upon receiving any information that a voter currently registered in the State has moved to a different address within the State, the appropriate election official shall change the voter's record and send the voter a confirmation notice.

(c) If it appears from information provided by the postal service or an agency specified in Sec. 3-504(b) of this subtitle that a voter has moved to a different address outside the State, the election official in the county where the voter most recently resided in the State shall send the voter a confirmation notice informing the voter of his or her potential inactive status as described in Sec. 3-503 of this subtitle.

(d) Upon receipt of a return card, the election director shall:

  (1) make any needed corrections in the statewide voter registration list; and

  (2) in accordance with State Board guidelines, retain original voter registration documents.

(e) The election director may not remove a voter from the statewide voter registration list on the grounds of a change of address unless:

  (1) the voter confirms in writing that the voter has changed residence to a location outside the State; or

  (2)

    (i) the voter has failed to respond to a confirmation notice under subsection (c) of this section; and

    (ii) the voter has not voted or appeared to vote (and, if necessary, corrected the record of the voter's address) in an election during the period beginning with the date of the notice through the next two general elections.

#### Section 3-503

(a) If a voter fails to respond to a confirmation notice under Sec. 3-502(c) of this subtitle, the voter's name shall be placed into inactive status on the statewide voter registration list.

(b) A voter shall be restored to active status on the statewide voter registration list after completing and signing any of the following election documents:

  (1) a voter registration application;

  (2) a petition governed by Title 6 of this article;

  (3) a certificate of candidacy;

  (4) an absentee ballot application; or

  (5) a written affirmation of residence completed on election day to entitle the voter to vote either at the election district or precinct for the voter's current residence or the voter's previous residence, as determined by the State Board.

(c) An inactive voter who fails to vote in an election in the period ending with the second general election shall be removed from the statewide voter registration list.

(d) Registrants placed into inactive status may not be counted for official administrative purposes including establishing precincts and reporting official statistics.

#### Section 3-504

(a)

  (1)

    (i) Information from the agencies specified in this paragraph shall be reported to the State Administrator in a format and at times prescribed by the State Board.

    (ii) The Maryland Department of Health shall report the names and residence addresses (if known) of all individuals at least 16 years of age reported deceased within the State since the date of the last report.

    (iii) Each month, the clerk of the circuit court for each county and the administrative clerk for each District Court shall report the names and addresses of all individuals convicted, in the respective court, of a felony and sentenced to imprisonment with commitment papers.

    (iv) The clerk of the circuit court for each county shall report the former and present names and residence addresses (if known) of all individuals whose names have been changed by decree or order of the court since the date of the last report.

  (2) The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland to receive reports of names and addresses, if available, of individuals convicted of a felony in that court and sentenced to imprisonment with commitment papers.

  (3) The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the United States Social Security Administration or an entity that receives information from the Social Security Administration and is approved by the State Administrator to receive reports of names and addresses, if available, of all Maryland residents at least 16 years of age who are reported deceased.

(b)

  (1) The State Administrator shall transmit to the appropriate local board information gathered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

  (2) Every agency or instrumentality of any county which acquires or condemns or razes or causes to be condemned or razed any building used as a residence within the county shall promptly report this fact and the location of the building to the local board in the county or city.

  (3) Registration cancellation information provided by an applicant on any voter registration application shall be provided to the appropriate local board by the State Administrator or another local board.

  (4) A local board may:

    (i) make arrangements to receive change of address information from an entity approved by the State Board; and

    (ii) pay a reasonable fee to the entity for the information.

(c)

  (1)

    (i) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, whenever a local board becomes aware of an obituary or any other reliable report of the death of a registered voter, the election director shall mail a notice to the registered voter, as prescribed by the State Board, to verify whether the voter is in fact deceased.

    (ii) On receipt of a verification of the death of a voter, provided in accordance with the notice mailed under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the election director may remove the voter from the statewide voter registration list under Sec. 3-501 of this subtitle.

  (2)

    (i) Whenever a local board receives a report obtained by the State Administrator under subsection (a)(3) of this section that includes a registered voter, the election director shall mail to the address shown on the statewide voter registration list, by regular U.S. mail, a notice that:

      (1) states that the registered voter has been reported by the Social Security Administration to have died; and

      (2) notifies the registered voter or a person attending the affairs of a deceased voter that the voter will be removed from the statewide voter registration list unless, within 2 weeks after the date of the letter, the registered voter or a representative:

      (A) objects to the removal; and

      (B) shows cause why the removal should not proceed.

    (ii) If the registered voter or a representative timely objects and shows cause why the removal should not proceed, the election director may:

      (1) terminate the removal process and retain the registered voter on the statewide voter registration list; or

      (2) refer the matter to the local board for a hearing to determine the registered voter's status.

    (iii) If the registered voter or a representative fails to timely object and show cause why the removal should not proceed, the registration shall be canceled and the registered voter removed from the statewide voter registration list.

#### Section 3-505

(a) The State Board shall adopt regulations for the retention and storage of and reasonable access to original voter registration applications and other voter registration records the State Board considers appropriate.

(b)

  (1) Voter registration records stored and retained in a local board office shall be open to public inspection.

  (2) For the purpose of public inspection, original voter registration records:

    (i) subject to Sec. 4-527(b) of the Family Law Article and Sec. 7-309(b) of the State Government Article and except upon the special order of the local board, shall be available at all times when a local board is open; and

    (ii) may not be removed from the office of the local board except:

      (1) on order of a court; or

      (2) for temporary removal solely for purposes of data processing.

(c)

  (1) Consistent with regulations adopted by the State Board, local boards shall maintain for at least 2 years all records concerning programs to ensure the accuracy and currency of the statewide voter registration list.

  (2) Except for records concerning a declination to register or the identity of a voter registration agency through which a particular voter applies for registration, the records described in paragraph (1) of this subsection are accessible under Title 4 of the General Provisions Article (Access to Public Records).

#### Section 3-506

(a)

  (1) A copy of a list of registered voters shall be provided to a Maryland registered voter on receipt of:

    (i) a written application; and

    (ii) a statement, signed under oath, that the list is not intended to be used for:

      (1) commercial solicitation; or

      (2) any other purpose not related to the electoral process.

  (2) In consultation with the local boards, the State Board shall adopt regulations that specify:

    (i) the time for a list to be provided under this subsection;

    (ii) the authorization to be required for providing a list;

    (iii) the fee to be paid for providing a list;

    (iv) the information to be included on a list;

    (v) that the residence address of an individual who is a participant in an address confidentiality program may not be disclosed;

    (vi) that a participant in an address confidentiality program is not required to apply to the State Board to keep the individual's residence address confidential;

    (vii) the format of the information; and

    (viii) the medium or media on which the information is to be provided.

(b)

  (1) The State Administrator or a designee shall provide a copy of the statewide voter registration list and voter registration records to a jury commissioner on request and without charge by means agreed to with the Administrative Office of the Courts.

  (2) On application of the Attorney General, a circuit court may compel compliance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(c) A person who knowingly allows a list of registered voters, under the person's control, to be used for any purpose not related to the electoral process is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to the penalties under Title 16 of this article.

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Md. Code Ann., Election Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)