Maryland2026Active
HB0044
HB0044: Clearer Rules for Ballot Questions and Petitions
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law changes how petition signature pages and ballots are written to use simple, clear language without legal jargon or confusing sentence structures.
What it does
- Requires a brief title on petitions that describes the topic, goal, or outcome of the ballot question.
- Mandates that summaries of proposals be written in plain, clear language that voters can easily understand.
- Prohibits using legal jargon, double negatives, and passive voice in descriptions of ballot questions.
- Sets a deadline for officials to prepare and certify ballot information by July 1 before an election.
- Requires the State Board of Elections to make submitted information available to the public for a comment period.
Who it affects
- People who circulate petitions to place questions on the ballot
- The Secretary of State, county attorneys, and municipal attorneys preparing ballot information
- Local boards of elections responsible for posting election materials
- Voters reading summaries on petition signature pages and ballots
Limits and unknowns
- The specific text of the public comment period rules is cut off in the provided source material.
- The law does not specify penalties for failing to follow these new writing requirements.
- Details on how exactly 'legal jargon' will be defined are left to future guidelines.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Plain Language
- Writing that is clear, simple, and easy to understand without using complex legal words.
- Passive Voice
- A sentence structure where the subject receives the action instead of doing it; this law bans its use in summaries.
- Double Negatives
- Using two negative words together, which can make a statement confusing or hard to understand.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Altering the information that is required to be included on the signature page of a petition seeking to place a question on the ballot and with a question on the ballot; requiring that a certain summary included on the signature page of a petition seeking to place a question on the ballot and a certain statement about a question on the ballot be written in plain language; requiring certain boards of elections to post the text of ballot measures for at least 90 days before the general election; etc.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the Senate - First Reading Senate Rules