# Election Law (GEL)

## Title 9. Voting

### Subtitle 4. Provisional Ballots

#### Section 9-403

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

(b) The guidelines shall provide for:

  (1) the provisional ballot application process;

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

  (3) the canvass process;

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

  (5) observers of the process;

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

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

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

  (9) the free access system required under Sec. 11-303(f) of this article.

(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)