# COMAR Title 33 — State Board of Elections

## Subtitle 05 — Voter Registration

### Chapter 05 — Notification

**Authority:** Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 3-101, and 3-301(c), Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date:

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective February 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 635); adopted permanently effective April 17, 2000 (27:7 Md. R. 708)

**Administrative History:** Chapter revised as an emergency provision effective July 3, 2002 (29:18 Md. R. 1440); revised permanently effective October 14, 2002 (29:20 Md. R. 1595)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .04A amended effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1654)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .04B amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .05 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .06 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)

#### Regulation .01 In General.

*COMAR 33.05.05.01*

This chapter applies to notification of applicants, subject to the preceding provisions of this subtitle.

#### Regulation .02 Voter Notification Card—Required Contents.

*COMAR 33.05.05.02*

The voter notification card (VNC) required by this chapter shall include:

A. The name and address of the voter;

B. The date of issue;

C. The ward, districts, and precinct of the voter's residence;

D. Party affiliation, if any; and

E. The name and address of the appropriate polling place.

#### Regulation .03 Voter Notification Card — Issuance on New Registration.

*COMAR 33.05.05.03*

A. VNC to Be Sent. Whenever a local board office receives a VRA, completes any needed inquiry, and determines that the applicant is not currently registered in Maryland but is qualified to register and resides in the county served by that board, the election director shall promptly send the applicant a VNC by nonforwardable mail.

B. When New Maryland Registration Is Complete.

  (1) Registration in Maryland is not considered completed until the VNC is issued.

  (2) If the VNC is returned as undeliverable, the applicant should not have been registered and the election director shall remove the applicant's name from the Statewide voter registration list.

#### Regulation .04 Duplicate or Changed VNC.

*COMAR 33.05.05.04*

A. Scope. This regulation applies whenever a voter currently registered in Maryland requests a:

  (1) Duplicate VNC to replace a lost, destroyed, or damaged VNC;

  (2) Change of name or party affiliation;

  (3) Change of address within the State.

B. New VNC to Be Issued. When a local board office receives the request, the election director shall:

  (1) Conduct any needed inquiry; and

  (2) If the election director determines that the request is in order, issue at no charge to the voter and send the applicant a new VNC by nonforwardable mail.

C. Action on Return of VNC. If the VNC is returned as undeliverable, the election director shall:

  (1) Send to the applicant, by forwardable mail, a confirmation notice, with a preaddressed, postage prepaid, return card on which the applicant can report his or her current address; and

  (2) Maintain a record in accordance with COMAR 33.05.02.05.

#### Regulation .05 Rejection of Registration.

*COMAR 33.05.05.05*

When an election director rejects an application for new registration in Maryland, the election director shall promptly send the applicant a letter that informs the applicant of the rejection and the specific reason for the rejection.

#### Regulation .06 Other Notifications.

*COMAR 33.05.05.06*

A. Duplicates.

  (1) If a VRA appears to duplicate a registration already on file, the election director:

    (a) Shall record the VRA as a duplicate in the Statewide voter registration system; and

    (b) Need not send a VNC.

  (2) Records of duplicates shall be maintained in accordance with COMAR 33.05.02.05.

B. VRA with Changed Name, etc. If a VRA is from a voter already listed in the Statewide voter registration list but includes a change of name, party affiliation, or address within the same county, or more than one of these, the election director shall:

  (1) Process the change; and

  (2) So notify the applicant, by sending the applicant, by nonforwardable mail, a VNC that reflects the change.

C. Notice to Another State. Whenever the previous registration portion of a VRA indicates that the applicant formerly resided and was registered in another state, the State Administrator shall forward the relevant information to the appropriate election official in the state of previous registration, unless that state has directed the State Board not to do so.