Chapter 03. Judges' Manuals and Training
Regulation .01 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
Training Class.
(a)
“Training class” means a class prepared and conducted by the election director to train election judges that is long enough to cover all of the requirements of the State Administrator’s training curriculum through an in-person, virtual, or online delivery method of instruction, as determined appropriate by the election director.
(b)
“Training class” includes a hands-on practice session with any technology that will be used by the election judge in a polling place.
(2)
“Training program” means the required course of instruction prepared by the election director to train election judges for each election.
Regulation .02 Administrator to Develop and Issue.LinkCopy Citation
The State Administrator shall develop and issue for the local boards:
A.
A judges' manual;
B.
Instruction sheets summarizing certain procedures; and
C.
The curriculum for training election judges.
Regulation .03 Development of Manual and Training Materials.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Before issuing a judges' manual, the State Administrator shall:
(1)
Convene a committee composed of representatives of the local boards to provide comment and feedback on the draft manual; and
(2)
Consider the committee's comments and suggestions.
B.
Upon receiving the judges' manual and instruction sheets, each local board shall:
(1)
Customize the sections of the manual and instruction sheets designated for customization; and
(2)
Submit the customized manual and instruction sheets to the State Board of Elections for review and approval.
C.
The State Administrator shall:
(1)
Review each local boards' customized manual and instruction sheets;
(2)
Notify the local board of any required changes; and
(3)
Once any required changes have been made, approve the manual and instruction sheets.
Regulation .04 Use of Training Materials.LinkCopy Citation
Each local board shall use the manual, instruction sheets, and curriculum approved by the State Administrator:
A.
For training its election judges; and
B.
As guidelines for conducting an election.
Regulation .05 Judges' Training Sessions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Delivery of Training Program.
(1)
Each election director shall prepare a training program for election judges.
(2)
The training program shall include training classes:
(a)
Before the primary and general elections in a presidential election year;
(b)
Before the primary election in a gubernatorial election year; and
(c)
If the State Administrator considers it necessary:
(i)
Before the general election in a gubernatorial election year; and
(ii)
Before a special primary or general election.
(3)
The election director shall hold as many training classes and hands-on practice sessions as needed to accommodate all of the election judges.
B.
Requirements for Training Program Completion.
(1)
Each election judge shall complete the required training program.
(2)
An election director may require an election judge to attend additional classes.
(3)
Unless appointed under emergency circumstances, an individual may not serve as an election judge unless the individual completes the required training program.
C.
Requirements for Training Compensation.
(1)
A local board shall pay at least $50 to an election judge who completes the training program, and serves as an election judge in the election for which the training was offered.
(2)
If the training program includes a training class that is offered through virtual instruction or online delivery and a hands-on practice session, the election judge shall complete the hands-on practice session to be entitled to compensation.
(3)
An election judge who is required to complete a training program prior to both a primary and general election is entitled to compensation for each training program, so long as the election judge serves as an election judge in the election for which the training was offered.
Chapter annotations
Authority: : Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 10-205, and 10-206, Annotated Code of Maryland; Ch. 157, Acts of 2023
History: Effective date:
History: Regulations .01—.04 adopted as an emergency provision effective February 1, 2000 (27:5 Md. R. 579): adopted permanently effective April 17, 2000 (27:7 Md. R. 707)
History: Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective July 23, 2008 (35:17 Md. R. 1483); amended permanently effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717)
History: Regulation .02 amended as an emergency provision effective July 23, 2008 (35:17 Md. R. 1483); amended permanently effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717)
History: Regulation .03 amended as an emergency provision effective July 23, 2008 (35:17 Md. R. 1483); amended permanently effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717)
History: Regulation .04A amended as an emergency provision effective July 23, 2008 (35:17 Md. R. 1483); amended permanently effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717)
History: Regulation .04A amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 333)
History: Regulation .04A amended as an emergency provision effective September 4, 2020 (47:20 Md. R. 873); emergency provision expired December 31, 2020
History: Chapter revised effective October 2, 2023 (50:19 Md. R. 854)
History: Regulation .05C amended effective March 2, 2026 (53:4 Md. R. 186)