# COMAR Title 33 — State Board of Elections

## Subtitle 21 — Special Elections by Mail

### Chapter 04 — Voting Centers

**Authority:** Election Law Article, §§2-102, 9-501, 9-503, and 9-506, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1230)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .06 amended effective July 10, 2023 (50:13 Md. R. 514)

#### Regulation .01 In General.

*COMAR 33.21.04.01*

A. Number of Voting Centers. The local board shall establish at least one voting center for a special election.

B. Location.

  (1) A voting center shall be located at the local board office or another location within the constituency where the special election is being held.

  (2) The public official responsible for the use of any public building requested by the local board for a voting center shall make available to the local board, without charge, the space that is needed in the building for the proper conduct of an election.

  (3) Light, heat, and custodial and janitorial services for the space shall be provided to the local board without charge.

C. Days and Hours. Except as provided in the proclamation issued by the Governor directing that the special election be conducted by mail or Regulation .02 of this chapter, a voting center shall be open for voting each day beginning 6 days before the day of a special election through the day of the special election during the hours between:

  (1) 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and

  (2) 12 noon and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

D. Applicability. All federal and State laws, regulations, and procedures that apply to voting during early voting and on election day apply to voting at a voting center.

#### Regulation .02 Montgomery County Requirements.

*COMAR 33.21.04.02*

A. Applicability. This regulation only applies to a local special election in Montgomery County.

B. Location of Voting Centers. The local board shall establish:

  (1) For a special election held in a single county council district, at least one voting center in the county council district where the special election is being held; or

  (2) For a countywide special election, at least one voting center shall be established in each county council district.

C. Voting Times. A voting center shall be open the days and hours that the county council specified in the resolution issued under Election Law Article, §9-501(d)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland.

#### Regulation .03 Minimum Requirements.

*COMAR 33.21.04.03*

A. Minimum Requirements. A local board shall ensure that each voting center:

  (1) Has the Statewide voting system for polling place voting, including an accessible device for voters with disabilities;

  (2) Provides for provisional voting in accordance with Election Law Article, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland;

  (3) Has the minimum amount of voting equipment as provided in Regulation .06 of this chapter; and

  (4) Satisfies the requirements of Election Law Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, and accommodates the technical requirements to conduct an election.

B. Local Board Office. If a local board office is a voting center, the local board office shall be:

  (1) Located in the district where the special election is being held;

  (2) Accessible for voters with disabilities; and

  (3) Satisfy the requirements of Election Law Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

#### Regulation .04 Selecting Voting Centers.

*COMAR 33.21.04.04*

A. Form for Proposed Voting Centers.

  (1) The State Board shall prescribe a form for a local board to use to provide information about a proposed voting center.

  (2) Except as provided in §A(3) of this regulation, the local board shall use the form prescribed by the State Board.

  (3) If the local board intends to use:

    (a) The local board’s office as the voting center for any special election, the local board shall certify that the local board office complies with Election Law Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; or

    (b) A voting center approved under COMAR 33.17.02.02F, the local board shall provide the State Administrator with the name and address of the approved voting center the local board intends to use as a voting center for the special election.

B. Form Submission for Proposed Voting Centers. At least 45 days before a special election, the local board shall submit to the State Administrator:

  (1) A form for each proposed voting center;

  (2) A certification that the local board’s office complies with Election Law Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; or

  (3) The name and address of the approved voting center that the local board is proposing to use as the voting center for the special election.

C. State Administrator Approval.

  (1) Upon receipt of a form for a proposed voting center, the State Administrator shall review the form or certification and determine whether the proposed voting center is sufficient.

  (2) Within 3 business days of receiving the form, the State Administrator shall notify the local board of the State Administrator’s decision.

#### Regulation .05 Security Plan for Voting Center.

*COMAR 33.21.04.05*

A. Security Plan Required. For the proposed voting center, an election director shall submit to the State Administrator a security plan for approval.

B. Contents of Plan.

  (1) The security plan shall describe in detail how a local board will keep voting equipment, electronic pollbooks, ballots, and other election equipment and supplies secure during voting and nonvoting hours.

  (2) The plan shall include:

    (a) A description of each entrance, including windows, to the area where equipment and supplies will be secured during nonvoting hours and how the entrance is secured;

    (b) The names and titles of all individuals who have a key or keys to the room where equipment and supplies will be secured during nonvoting hours;

    (c) A description of existing building security, such as alarms and closed circuit or Internet accessible cameras, and armed and unarmed guards at the facility; and

    (d) Any additional security measures that will be taken during voting and nonvoting hours.

  (3) At the request of the State Administrator or when it is considered necessary, an election director shall:

    (a) Review and update the security plan; and

    (b) If updated, submit within 2 days of updating the plan a copy of the updated plan to the State Administrator.

C. Review and Acceptance of Plan.

  (1) The State Administrator shall review a local board’s security plan and may require a local board to make changes to the plan, including implementing additional security measures.

  (2) Within 3 days of receiving the security plan, the State Administrator shall provide to the local board any feedback.

  (3) A local board shall update its plan according to the feedback provided by the State Administrator.

#### Regulation .06 Allocation of Equipment, Personnel, and Supplies.

*COMAR 33.21.04.06*

A. Submission of Allocation Plan. The local board shall work with the State Administrator to develop a plan for the allocation of equipment, personnel, and supplies.

B. Plan Requirements. The plan shall include the proposed number of:

  (1) Voting units, including accessible voting devices;

  (2) Electronic pollbooks;

  (3) Election judges; and

  (4) Provisional ballot applications