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<chapter num="07" heading="Non-Voting Hours Procedures" title_num="33" subtitle_num="17">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Voting Equipment Supplies.">
    <text>At the end of each night of early voting, the local board shall ensure that:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The election judges have closed all equipment in accordance with the procedures in the election judges' manual;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>All equipment, unvoted ballots, and supplies are secured in accordance with the security plan required by COMAR 33.17.02.04;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The following supplies are returned to the local board office:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The sealed provisional ballot bag with completed provisional ballot applications and voted provisional ballots; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>All signed voter authority cards;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Ballot and other reconciliation procedures specified in the election judges' manual are performed; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Any other procedure required by the State Administrator is performed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Early Voting Center.">
    <text>At the end of each night of early voting, the local board shall ensure that the room in which early voting is conducted and any designated storage areas are secured in accordance with the security plan required by COMAR 33.17.02.04.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Processing and Storing Ballots.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In accordance with COMAR 33.16, the local board may process provisional ballot applications received during the early voting period.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The local board shall maintain ballots voted during early voting:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Grouped by batch number; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Separate from ballots voted on election day, absentee ballots, and provisional ballots.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Post-Early Voting Activities.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Return of Equipment. On the last day of early voting, a local board shall transport all voting units used during early voting to the local board facility for secure storage.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Generating Early Voting Results. On election day and in accordance with the security plan established by the State Administrator under §D of this regulation, each local board shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Beginning no earlier than 9 a.m., print a totals report for each unit used during early voting and aggregate the early voting results;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Except as described in §C of this regulation, allow individuals to observe the process described in §B(1) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Report the early voting results to the State Board by 7 p.m.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Observation — Exception. A local board is not required to allow for observation if prohibiting public observation is necessary to ensure:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The integrity or accuracy of the canvass; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>That the canvass is not impeded.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Security Plan. The State Administrator shall develop a security plan that provides procedures that will be taken to ensure that election results will not be released to the public prior to the end of the election.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 10-301.1, 11-301, and 11-309, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: April 19, 2010 (37: 8 Md. R. 624)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A amended effective October 2, 2023 (50:19 Md. R. 854)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01C amended effective September 6, 2010 (37:18 Md. R. 1216)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01D amended effective October 2, 2023 (50:19 Md. R. 854)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03B amended effective April 27, 2026 (53:8 Md. R. 356)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04 amended effective September 6, 2010 (37:18 Md. R. 1216); February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 338)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04B, C amended effective August 22, 2011 (38:17 Md. R. 1015)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>