Maryland2026Active
HB0052
Voting Rights for All Act
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law requires the State Board of Elections to create a toll-free hotline for incarcerated people and changes rules so that some individuals convicted of felonies can register while serving their sentences.
What it does
- The State Board must provide a toll-free voter hotline specifically for incarcerated individuals.
- People using this line can get information about voting, request election materials, and report violations of voting rights.
- The State Board will work with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to run the hotline.
- An individual convicted of a felony who is serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment may now register to vote.
Who it affects
- Incarcerated individuals seeking voting information
- The State Board of Elections responsible for managing the new hotline
- Correctional facilities and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not say if people who are on parole or probation can use the hotline.
- It is unclear how quickly correctional facilities will update their records to allow new registrations after January 1, 2027.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Incarcerated individuals
- People who are currently in jail or prison because they were convicted of a crime.
- Toll-free hotline
- A phone number that costs nothing to call for the person making the call.
- Felony conviction
- Being found guilty of a serious crime by a court.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a toll-free voter hotline for incarcerated individuals to receive information about voting, request election-related materials, and report voting rights violations; and altering the circumstances under which an individual is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals convicted of a felony and serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction to register to vote.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.