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<chapter num="05" heading="Special Assistance" title_num="33" subtitle_num="07">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Inability to Sign.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. Subject to the requirements of §B of this regulation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>If a voter is unable to sign a form used at a polling place, an “X” or similar mark will be accepted as that individual's signature; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If a voter is unable to make a mark, the requirement for a signature is met by the execution of the endorsement described in §B of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Endorsement. In either of the situations described in §A of this regulation, the election judge checking in or otherwise assisting the voter shall sign and date, on the back of the form, an endorsement indicating that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The voter was unable to sign the voter's name; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If the form that the voter was unable to sign was the voter authority card, the voter was found qualified to vote by that election judge.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Assistance Needed to Cast Ballot.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Scope. This regulation applies when, because of a physical disability or an inability to read or write English, a voter requests assistance in marking or casting the ballot or in filling out a provisional ballot application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Voter's Options.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>As provided in Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the voter may select anyone to assist the voter, except:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The voter's employer;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The voter's union representative;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>An officer or agent of the voter's employer or union;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>For a voter casting a provisional ballot, a candidate who is on the voter's ballot; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>A challenger or watcher who has been designated as such for this election.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If the voter declines to select an individual to assist the voter, two election judges representing different political parties shall assist the voter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Voter Assistance Record—Voter's Name and Address. The election judges shall enter the voter's name and address on a voter assistance record, in the form that the State Administrator prescribes.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Voter Assistance Record—Signing by Individual Assisting. If the voter has selected someone to assist the voter, the individual selected by the voter shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Enter her or his name and address on the voter assistance record; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Sign the record to affirm that she or he:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Has been asked by the voter to assist the voter in marking or casting the voter's ballot or in filling out a provisional ballot application;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Is not the voter's employer or an agent of the voter's employer;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Is not an officer or agent of the voter's union;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>Has not been appointed as a challenger or watcher for this election;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>Will assist the voter only by:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Reading instructions or the content of the ballot or the application form to the voter, and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>As directed by the voter, marking or casting the ballot, or completing a provisional ballot application; and</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(f)">
          <text>Will not attempt to influence the voter or suggest in any way how the voter should vote in any contest or question.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Voter Assistance Record—Signing by Judges Assisting. If election judges will be providing the assistance, they shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Sign the voter assistance record; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Enter their respective party affiliations.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>Scope of Assistance. Assistance provided under this regulation shall be limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Reading the instructions or the content of the ballot or the application form to the voter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>As directed by the voter, marking or casting the ballot, or completing a provisional ballot application.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Name Not in Election Register.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Manual Procedures. If a voter's name does not appear in the election register, the election judges shall follow the procedures specified in the Judges' Manual.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>“Fail-Safe” Procedures.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The State Administrator shall establish procedures to implement the “fail-safe” provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The election director shall comply with these procedures when providing instructions to election judges.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Powers of Attorney.">
    <text>The right to vote may not be delegated to any other person, whether by power of attorney or otherwise.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 3-101, 9-403, 9-406, 10-310(c), and 10-311(d), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.04 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 636); adopted permanently effective July 10, 2000 (27:13 Md. R. 1213)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 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)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02B amended effective September 6, 2010 (37:18 Md. R. 1215)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02D, F amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 334)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03 amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03A 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)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>