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<chapter num="05" heading="Notification" title_num="33" subtitle_num="05">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="In General.">
    <text>This chapter applies to notification of applicants, subject to the preceding provisions of this subtitle.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Voter Notification Card—Required Contents.">
    <text>The voter notification card (VNC) required by this chapter shall include:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The name and address of the voter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The date of issue;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The ward, districts, and precinct of the voter's residence;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Party affiliation, if any; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The name and address of the appropriate polling place.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Voter Notification Card — Issuance on New Registration.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>When New Maryland Registration Is Complete.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Registration in Maryland is not considered completed until the VNC is issued.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>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.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Duplicate or Changed VNC.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Scope. This regulation applies whenever a voter currently registered in Maryland requests a:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Duplicate VNC to replace a lost, destroyed, or damaged VNC;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Change of name or party affiliation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Change of address within the State.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>New VNC to Be Issued. When a local board office receives the request, the election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Conduct any needed inquiry; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>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.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Action on Return of VNC. If the VNC is returned as undeliverable, the election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>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</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Maintain a record in accordance with COMAR 33.05.02.05.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Rejection of Registration.">
    <text>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.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Other Notifications.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Duplicates.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>If a VRA appears to duplicate a registration already on file, the election director:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Shall record the VRA as a duplicate in the Statewide voter registration system; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Need not send a VNC.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Records of duplicates shall be maintained in accordance with COMAR 33.05.02.05.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>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:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Process the change; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>So notify the applicant, by sending the applicant, by nonforwardable mail, a VNC that reflects the change.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 3-101, and 3-301(c), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="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)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="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)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04A amended effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1654)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04B amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .06 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>