Chapter 03. Polling Places
Regulation .01 Required Polling Place Plan.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Requirements for Polling Place Plan. A local board shall include in the polling place plan:
(1)
Evidence that the plan complies with Election Law Article, §10-101(a)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland;
(2)
In a Statewide election except for the first election immediately following statewide redistricting based on the census, if the polling place plan proposes to reduce the number of separate buildings used as polling places below the total number of separate buildings used as polling places in the first statewide general election held after the most recent Statewide redistricting based on the census:
(a)
The address and a description of the location of each affected polling place;
(b)
An analysis of available suitable buildings within the precinct boundary, including the availability of parking and a determination regarding building compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act;
(c)
Of the voters who cast ballots in each affected precinct in the three most recent Statewide elections:
(i)
The percentage who voted in person on election day;
(ii)
The percentage who voted by mail;
(iii)
The number who registered to vote on election day; and
(iv)
The number who voted at an early voting center;
(d)
Proximity of the proposed polling place to a dense concentration of voters in the affected precinct;
(e)
The change in the number of registered voters in the affected precinct from the last Statewide election;
(f)
The public transportation options that voters in each affected precinct could use to access the polling place that would serve the precinct under the plan; and
(g)
An analysis of the impact on the ability of historically disenfranchised communities to cast a ballot, including demographic information of the voters in the affected precinct.
(3)
In the first Statewide election held after a Statewide redistricting based on the census, if the polling place plan proposes to reduce the total number of separate buildings used as polling places below the total number of separate buildings used as polling places in the immediately preceding general election:
(a)
The address and a description of the location of each affected polling place;
(b)
An analysis of available suitable buildings within the precinct boundary, including the availability of parking and a determination regarding building compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act;
(c)
Of the voters who cast ballots in each affected precinct in the three most recent Statewide elections:
(i)
The percentage who voted in person on election day;
(ii)
The percentage who voted by mail;
(iii)
The number who registered to vote on election day; and
(iv)
The number who voted at an early voting center;
(d)
The proximity of the proposed polling place to a dense concentration of voters in the affected precinct;
(e)
The change in the number of registered voters in the affected precinct from the last Statewide election;
(f)
The public transportation options that voters in each affected precinct could use to access the polling place that would serve the precinct under the plan; and
(g)
An analysis of the impact on the ability of historically disenfranchised communities to cast a ballot, including demographic information of the voters in the affected precinct.
B.
Form for Polling Place Plan.
(1)
The State Board shall:
(a)
Prescribe a form for a local board to use to provide a proposed polling place plan; and
(b)
Provide each local board with the form at least 9 months before a primary election.
(2)
Contents of Form. The form shall include questions related to whether the proposed polling place plan meets the requirements in §A of this regulation.
(3)
Form Submission. A local board shall submit the form at least 7 months before each Statewide primary election. Completion and submission of the form shall constitute fulfillment of a local board’s duty to submit a polling place plan pursuant to Election Law Article, §2-303.1(a), Annotated Code of Maryland.
C.
Additional Information. For each polling place plan, a local board shall submit with the form required in §B of this regulation:
(1)
A Polling Place Selection Form;
(2)
The State of Maryland’s Accessibility Survey form for each polling place;
(3)
Documentation of the local board’s approval of the polling place plan;
(4)
A polling place diagram;
(5)
Photographs of the interior and exterior of each polling place; and
(6)
If required by §A(2) or (3) of this regulation, documentation to support the determination that all buildings that will no longer be used as polling places are no longer suitable to be used as polling places.
Regulation .02 New or Changed Polling Place.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Board Action Required to Change the Location of a Polling Place. A local board may not vote to change the location of a polling place unless the local board first:
(1)
Holds a meeting to discuss the proposed change; and
(2)
Provides an opportunity for interested parties to testify on the proposed change at the meeting.
B.
Notice of Proposed Changes.
(1)
Each local board shall maintain a contact list of individuals and organizations who wish to be notified about local board meetings at which an election plan or any proposed changes to the locations of polling places will be discussed.
(2)
Each local board shall make available in a conspicuous location on its website:
(a)
Information about the contact list in §B(1) of this regulation, including:
(i)
A statement that the purpose of the list is to provide notice about local board meetings where an election plan or proposed change to a location of a polling place will be considered, in fulfillment of this regulation and COMAR 33.01.08.04(a).
(ii)
A statement that by signing up for the list the person will receive notice of any meeting where election plans or polling place changes are considered; and
(iii)
How to register for the list.
(b)
At least 14 days before a meeting where an election plan or polling place change will be discussed, the proposed election plan or written description of the proposed change in polling place.
(3)
At least 14 days before meeting to consider a change of a polling place, the local board shall provide written notice of the meeting to:
(a)
Each individual and organization on the contact list; and
(b)
The following elected officials who represent the precinct containing either the current polling place location or its proposed location:
(i)
The Mayor;
(ii)
County Executive;
(iii)
County Commissioner;
(iv)
County Council member;
(v)
Each Municipal Council member; and
(vi)
Member of the General Assembly.
C.
Exception for Emergency Changes. The requirements of §§A and B of this regulation do not apply if a local board determines that an emergency exists that requires a change to the polling place location during the period beginning 21 days before election day through election day.
D.
Notice Required to Voters.
(1)
Whenever a local board changes the location of a polling place, the local board shall notify all voters who are affected by the change.
(2)
Except as provided in §D(3)(b) of this regulation, the local board shall mail this notice to the affected voters before the next election.
(3)
How and When — Emergencies.
(a)
If an emergency prevents compliance with §B of this regulation, the local board shall:
(i)
Take whatever steps it considers reasonable to notify affected voters of the change; and
(ii)
Inform the State Administrator of the change and the steps being taken to notify voters.
(b)
The notice required by this section:
(i)
Shall include a prominent notice posted at the former polling place; and
(ii)
May include television, radio, and newspaper announcements and advertisements and postings on the Internet.
Regulation .03 Reassignments — Spouse or Helper of Elderly Voter or Voter with a Disability.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Helper Defined. In this regulation, “helper” means an individual who regularly renders assistance to an elderly voter or voter with a disability.
B.
Right to Reassignment. A voter's spouse or helper may be reassigned to the voter’s polling place if the spouse or helper is registered to vote in the same county as the voter, and the voter's polling place will have available a ballot with the same content as the spouse's or helper’s ballot.
C.
Procedure. The request of a helper or spouse for reassignment:
(1)
Shall be made on the form that the State Board prescribes; and
(2)
May be made at any time before the close of registration or, if later, within 10 days after the elderly voter or voter with a disability receives notice of reassignment.
D.
Issuance of Ballot. Any ballot issued to a spouse or helper under this regulation shall have the same content as the ballot used in the polling place originally assigned to the spouse or helper.
Regulation .04 Reassignments — Religious Objections.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In General. If entry into the polling place assigned to a voter conflicts with the voter's bona fide religious beliefs and practices, the voter may request a reassignment by the local board.
B.
Procedure. The request for reassignment:
(1)
Shall be made on the form that the State Board prescribes; and
(2)
May be made at any time before the close of registration.
C.
Duties of Local Board. On receipt of the request, the local board shall either:
(1)
Assign the voter to a polling place in the voter's county that does not conflict with the voter's bona fide religious beliefs and practices and has the same ballot content as the ballot for the polling place originally assigned to the voter; or
(2)
Issue the voter an absentee ballot in accordance with procedures established under:
(a)
Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland; and
(b)
This title.
D.
Issuance of Ballot. Any ballot issued to a voter under this regulation shall have the same content as the ballot used in the polling place originally assigned to the voter.
Regulation .05 Reassignments — Other.LinkCopy Citation
A local board may develop and, with the approval of the State Board, adopt procedures that authorize other polling place reassignments for good cause.
Regulation .06 Access to School Property.LinkCopy Citation
A voter who is required to register under Criminal Procedure Article, §11-704, Annotated Code of Maryland, is permitted to vote at a school on election day if the voter is properly registered to vote and the voter’s assigned polling place is at the school.
Regulation .07 Polling Place — Alcoholic Beverage License.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In General. A local board may use a building or part of a building that is owned, occupied, or partially occupied by an establishment that holds an alcoholic beverages license as a polling place.
B.
Selection Factors. A local board shall:
(1)
Prioritize the placement of polling locations in buildings that are not owned, occupied, or partially occupied by an establishment that holds an alcoholic beverages license prior to the selection of a building; and
(2)
Make and approve a written agreement with the facility to ensure that:
(a)
Public activities involving businesses and alcoholic sales do not interfere with voting activities; and
(b)
Alcoholic beverages are not sold or consumed within the electioneering boundaries.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Criminal Procedure Article, §11-722; Election Law Article, §§1-101, 2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 2-303.1 and 10-101; Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date:
History: Regulations .01—.08 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 2000 (27:15 Md. R. 1398); adopted permanently effective October 16, 2000 (27:20 Md. R. 1844)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1595)
History: Regulation .06 amended effective October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1595); June 25, 2012 (39:12 Md. R. 746)
History: Regulation .07C amended effective October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1595)
History: Chapter revised effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 337)
History: Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective November 27, 2023 (50:23 Md. R. 1005)
History: Regulation .01 amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1140)
History: Regulation .02 repealed and new Regulation .02 adopted effective November 27, 2023 (50:23 Md. R. 1005)
History: Regulation .02 amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1140)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective March 31, 2025 (52:6 Md. R. 269)
History: Regulation .03B, D amended effective December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1053)
History: Regulation .04C, D amended effective December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1053)
History: Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 18, 2022 (49:17 Md. R. 789); emergency expired December 1, 2022
History: Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1053)