# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 9. Voting

### Subtitle 1. Voting Systems

#### Section 9-102

(a) In this section, a "voter-verifiable paper record"  includes:

  (1) a paper ballot prepared by the voter for the  purpose of being read by a precinct-based optical scanner;

  (2) a paper ballot prepared by the voter to be mailed to  the applicable local board, whether mailed from a domestic or an  overseas location; and

  (3) a paper ballot created through the use of a ballot  marking device.

(b) The State Board shall adopt regulations for the review,  certification, and decertification of voting systems.

(c) The State Board shall periodically review and evaluate alternative  voting systems.

(d) The State Board may not certify a voting system unless the State  Board determines that:

  (1) the voting system will:

    (i) protect the secrecy of the ballot;

    (ii) protect the security of the voting process;

    (iii) count and record all votes accurately;

    (iv) accommodate any ballot used under this article;

    (v) protect all other rights of voters and candidates;

    (vi) be capable of creating a paper record of all votes cast in  order that an audit trail is available in the event of a recount, including a manual  recount; and

    (vii) provide a voter-verifiable paper record that:

      (1) is an individual document that is  physically separated from any other similar document and not part  of a continuous roll;

      (2) is sufficiently durable to withstand  repeated handling for the purposes of mandatory random audits  and recounts; and

      (3) uses ink that does not fade, smear, or  otherwise degrade and obscure or obliterate the paper record  over time;

  (2) the voting system has been:

    (i) examined by an independent testing laboratory that is  approved by the U.S. Election  Assistance Commission; and

    (ii) shown by the testing laboratory to meet the performance  and test standards for electronic voting systems established by the Federal Election  Commission or the U.S. Election Assistance Commission; and

  (3) the public interest will be served by the certification of the voting  system.

(e) In determining whether a voting system meets the required  standards, the State Board shall consider:

  (1) the commercial availability of the system and its replacement parts  and components;

  (2) the availability of continuing service for the system;

  (3) the cost of implementing the system;

  (4) the efficiency of the system;

  (5) the likelihood that the system will malfunction;

  (6) the system's ease of understanding for the voter;

  (7) the convenience of voting afforded by the system;

  (8) the timeliness of the tabulation and reporting of election returns;

  (9) the potential for an alternative means of verifying the tabulation;

  (10) accessibility for all voters with disabilities recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act; and

  (11) any other factor that the State Board considers relevant.

(f) A voting system selected, certified, and implemented under this section shall:

  (1) provide access to voters with disabilities that is equivalent to access afforded voters without disabilities without creating a segregated ballot for voters with disabilities;

  (2) ensure the independent, private casting, inspection, verification, and correction of secret ballots by voters with disabilities in an accessible media by both visual and nonvisual means, including synchronized audio output and enhanced visual display; and

  (3) comply with both the Americans with Disabilities Act, P.L. 101-336, and the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, including accessibility standards adopted as part of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines pursuant to the Help America Vote Act.

(g)

  (1) At least one voting system in each polling place  on election day shall provide access for voters with disabilities in compliance with subsection (f) of this section.

  (2) The State Board shall ensure that adequate backup equipment is available and contingency plans are established to ensure compliance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(h) Before the selection of a voting system, the State Board shall:

  (1) ensure that an accessible voting system conforms to the access requirements of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines developed in accordance with the Help America Vote Act in effect at the time of selection; and

  (2) conduct an accessibility and usability evaluation of the voting system to assess its accessibility and usability by voters with disabilities, including:

    (i) a public demonstration of the system; and

    (ii) an evaluation by individuals representing a cross-section of voters with disabilities.

(i)

  (1) The State Board shall adopt regulations relating to  requirements for each voting system selected and certified under Sec. 9-101 of this  subtitle.

  (2) The regulations shall specify the procedures necessary to assure  that the standards of this title are maintained, including:

    (i) a description of the voting system;

    (ii) a public information program by the local board, at the time  of introduction of a new voting system, to be directed to all voters, candidates,  campaign groups, schools, and news media in the county;

    (iii) local election officials' responsibility for management of the  system;

    (iv) the actions required to assure the security of the voting  system;

    (v) the supplies and equipment required;

    (vi) the storage, delivery, and return of the supplies and  equipment necessary for the operation of the voting system;

    (vii) standards for training election officials in the operation and  use of the voting system;

    (viii) before each election and for all ballot styles to be used,  testing by the members of the local board to ensure the accuracy of tallying,  tabulation, and reporting of the vote, and observing of that testing by representatives  of political parties and of candidates who are not affiliated with political parties;

    (ix) the number of voting stations or voting booths required in  each polling place, in relation to the number of registered voters assigned to the  polling place;

    (x) the practices and procedures in each polling place  appropriate to the operation of the voting system;

    (xi) assuring ballot accountability in systems using a document  ballot;

    (xii) the actions required to tabulate votes; and

    (xiii) postelection review and audit of the system's output.

  (3) Certification of a voting system is not effective until the  regulations applicable to the voting system have been adopted.

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