Chapter 07. List Maintenance and Inactive Voters
Regulation .01 Required List Maintenance.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Purpose. The procedures of this chapter are designed to provide a method by which to periodically identify and, when appropriate, remove from the Statewide voter registration list individuals who have become ineligible by reason of a change of address to a jurisdiction outside Maryland.
B.
Preelection Mailing. Before every general election (other than a special election), all election directors shall mail to all registered voters in their respective jurisdictions, by nonforwardable mail, a specimen ballot meeting the requirements of Election Law Article, §8-102(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.
C.
Post-Election Confirmation. As soon as reasonably practicable after the general election, the election directors shall begin the confirmation mailing process prescribed in Election Law Article, §3-502, Annotated Code of Maryland. The confirmation mailing and the removal of voters from the Statewide voter registration list or their placement on the inactive list, as appropriate, shall be completed at least 90 days before the next election.
Regulation .02 Procedures for Confirmation, Removal, etc.LinkCopy Citation
On receipt of a report that a registered voter has changed address, the election director shall follow the procedures set out in Election Law Article, Title 3, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Regulation .03 Inactive Voters and Petitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Scope of Regulation. This regulation applies to an individual who has been placed on a list of inactive voters based on information that the voter has moved to a jurisdiction outside Maryland.
B.
When Petition Address Is Same as Record Address. If an individual on an inactive list signs a petition and provides the same address as the address on file at the local board office:
(1)
The signature is considered written confirmation of the individual's continued residence at that address; and
(2)
The election director shall remove the individual's name from the inactive list and update the individual's record in the Statewide voter registration list.
C.
When Petition Address Is Not Same as Record Address.
(1)
If an individual on an inactive list signs a petition and provides an address different from the address on file at the local board office:
(a)
The signature is considered written confirmation of a change of address; and
(b)
The election director shall take action as provided in §C(2), (3), or (4) of this regulation.
(2)
If the address on the petition is within the same county served by the local board, the election director shall:
(a)
Take appropriate action under COMAR 33.05.06.01; and
(b)
Remove the voter from the inactive list.
(3)
If the address on the petition is within a different Maryland county, the election director shall:
(a)
Take appropriate action under COMAR 33.05.04.02; and
(b)
Remove the voter from the inactive list.
(4)
If the address on the petition is in a jurisdiction outside Maryland, the election director shall take appropriate action under COMAR 33.05.06.03.
Regulation .04 Prompt Updating Required.LinkCopy Citation
An election director shall update the Statewide voter registration list as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving any VRA or other appropriate notice or form for registration, cancellation of registration, or change of name, address, or political affiliation.
Regulation .05 Reports to State Administrator.LinkCopy Citation
At the request of the State Administrator, each election director shall report to the State Administrator the number of:
A.
New registrations;
B.
Confirmation notices mailed to newly registered voters;
C.
Confirmation notices returned;
D.
Registered voters whose registrations have been transferred to other Maryland counties;
E.
Registered voters removed from the voter registry for any reason other than transfer to another Maryland county; and
F.
Inactive voters.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 3-101, and 3-501—3-506, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date:
History: Regulations .01—.05 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)
History: Regulations .01—.03, .05 amended as an emergency provision effective July 3, 2002 (29:18 Md. R. 1440); amended permanently effective October 14, 2002 (29:20 Md. R. 1595)
History: Regulation .01A, C amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)
History: Regulation .03 amended as an emergency provision effective June 21, 2006 (33:15 Md. R. 1277); amended permanently effective September 25, 2006 (33:19 Md. R. 1561)
History: Regulation .03B amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)
History: Regulation .04 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 767)
History: Regulation .05 amended effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1654)