<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 33.11.02.01" title_num="33" subtitle_num="11" chapter_num="02" heading="In General.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Qualification. A registered voter may apply for and vote by an absentee ballot if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The voter is qualified under Election Law Article, §9-304 or §10-102, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The voter satisfies any identification requirement under Regulation .07 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Methods of Applying. An application for an absentee ballot may be made by:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Formal request, as provided in Regulation .02 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Informal, written request, as provided in Regulation .03 of this chapter; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In-person request, as provided in Regulation .04 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Requests for Application. A local board shall accept requests for a formal application sent by mail or electronic transmission.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Timely Request.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A request is timely if the local board receives the request by the applicable deadline in §D(2) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If voter’s request was submitted:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>By electronic submission and the voter requested the absentee ballot be sent by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Mail or facsimile, the request must be received on or before 11:59:59 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Internet, the request must be received on or before 11:59:59 p.m. on the Friday before the election;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>By mail or via a ballot drop box and the voter requested the absentee ballot be sent by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Mail or facsimile, the request must be received by mail or deposited into a ballot drop box on or before 8 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Internet, the request must be received by mail or deposited into a ballot drop box on or before 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>In person by the voter or the voter’s authorized agent, the request must be received on or before 8 p.m. on election day.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Third-Party Submission. An individual or organization receiving a completed absentee ballot application from a voter shall submit the application to the appropriate local board within 2 business days of receiving the application or by the deadline to submit an absentee ballot application established in §D(2) of this regulation, whichever occurs first.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Early Submission. An election director may not reject an otherwise valid absentee ballot application submitted by a voter solely because the application was submitted before the Statewide voter registration system is ready to accept an absentee ballot application for that election.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Duration of Absentee Ballot Application. An absentee ballot application shall only apply to the elections specified by the voter but shall be limited to the upcoming primary and general election and any special election within the calendar year in which the primary and general election occurs.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>