# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 9. Voting

### Subtitle 3. Absentee Voting

#### Section 9-303

(a) The State Board shall establish guidelines for the administration of absentee voting by the local boards.

(b) The guidelines shall provide for:

  (1) the application process;

  (2) late application for absentee ballots;

  (3) ballot security, including storage of returned ballots;

  (4) determining timeliness of receipt of applications and ballots, including applications and ballots for overseas voters;

  (5) the canvass process;

  (6) notice of the canvass to candidates, political parties, campaign organizations, news media, and the general public;

  (7) observers of the process;

  (8) review of voted ballots and envelopes for compliance with the law and for machine tabulation acceptability;

  (9) standards for disallowance of ballots during the canvass;

  (10) storage and retention of ballots following canvass and certification; and

  (11) the permanent absentee ballot list.

(c) The State Board shall:

  (1) in consultation with the local boards, assess the guidelines before each primary election; and

  (2) revise the guidelines if indicated.

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