<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="04" heading="Pre-Canvass Procedures" title_num="33" subtitle_num="16">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Securing Ballots.">
    <text>Until the canvass begins, every provisional ballot returned by a voter shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Remain sealed in the provisional ballot application envelope; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Be placed in a secure location to which the public does not have access.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Pre-Canvass Review.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Before the Canvass.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Complete Application.</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The election director shall review the provisional ballot application to determine if the application is complete.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>An application is complete if:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>The application is signed by the voter; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>There is sufficient information on the application for the election director to determine whether the voter is registered to vote.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>A special provisional ballot application for extended voting hours is complete if:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>The voter's name is printed on the envelope; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>The voter signed the oath printed on the envelope.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>A provisional ballot application used for the purpose of same day registration or address change during early voting or same day registration on election day is complete if:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>The registration and oath document is affixed to the provisional ballot application; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>The voter signed the registration and oath document.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The election director shall determine whether:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The voter is a registered voter;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>For a primary election, the voter is affiliated with the political party the voter indicated on the provisional ballot application;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>The voter returned a voted absentee ballot or already voted in the election;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>The voter satisfied the verification or identification requirement as provided in §B of this regulation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>The ballot cast by the voter is the correct ballot style for the voter based on the address listed on the provisional ballot application;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(f)">
          <text>The challenge to the voter’s identity was valid as provided in §D of this regulation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(g)">
          <text>If the individual attempted to register and vote during early voting or on election day but was not a pre-qualified voter, the individual is eligible to register to vote and provided proof of residency as provided in §E of this regulation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(h)">
          <text>If the individual attempted to register and vote during early voting or on election day but did not provide proof of residency, the individual provided proof of residency as provided in §E of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The election director shall complete the election director section of the provisional ballot application.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The election director shall enter into the voter registration system all of the required information.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Satisfying the Verification Requirement.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A voter whose registration status is pending satisfies the verification requirement if the voter:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Provides personal identification information if the voter is pending because a previously submitted driver’s license or partial social security number could not be verified; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Provides an identification number and the number is verified under COMAR 33.05.04.04 or indicates that the voter does not have an identification number if the voter is pending because the voter had not previously provided a driver’s license or partial social security number.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Personal identification information or identification number shall be provided:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>To an election judge who will record on the provisional ballot application the type of personal identification information the voter provided;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>On the provisional ballot application where the personal identification number is requested; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>To the local board before the start of the provisional ballot canvass.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Satisfying the Identification Requirement. A voter satisfies the identification requirement if the voter provides personal identification information to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An election judge who shall record on the provisional ballot application the type of personal identification information the voter provided; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The local board before the start of the provisional ballot canvass.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Verification of Challenge to Voter's Identity. To determine whether a challenge to a voter's identity is valid, the election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Review the voter's signature on the affidavit and compare it to the signature on file with the local board or scanned into the voter registration system; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If, after reviewing the documents, the challenge is inconclusive, contact the voter and request personal identification information.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Satisfying the Proof of Residency Requirement. An individual satisfies the proof of residency requirement if the individual provides proof of residency to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An election judge who shall record the type of proof of residency information the individual provided; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The local board before the start of the provisional ballot canvass.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 3-305, 3-306, 9-402, 9-403, 9-404, 9-406, and 11-303(c) and (e), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">COMAR Chapter 33.16.04 Canvass of Ballots — Procedures recodified to COMAR 33.16.05 and Regulations .01 and .02 adopted under new COMAR Chapter 33.16.04 Pre-Canvass Procedures effective October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1595)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02A amended effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338); December 2, 2019 (46:24 Md. R. 1104); July 10, 2023 (50:13 Md. R. 514)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02A, B amended effective November 23, 2017 (44:23 Md. R. 1079)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02E adopted effective February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>