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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0052*
HOUSE BILL 52
G1 6lr1104
HB 710/25 – W&M (PRE–FILED) CF SB 89
By: Delegate Wilkins
Requested: October 6, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Incarcerated Individuals – Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility 2
(Voting Rights for All Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a certain voter hotline 4
for incarcerated individuals; altering the circumstances under which an individual 5
is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals 6
convicted of a felony and serving a court –ordered sentence of imprisonment for the 7
conviction to register to vote; and generally relating to a voting hotline and voting 8
eligibility for incarcerated individuals. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Election Law 11
Section 1–306 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Election Law 16
Section 3–102 and 3–504(a) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
BY repealing 20
Article – Election Law 21
Section 16–202 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 24
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26
2 HOUSE BILL 52
Article – Election Law 1
1–306. 2
(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE A TOLL–FREE VOTER HOTLINE FOR 3
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING, REQUEST 4
ELECTION–RELATED MATERIALS, AND REPORT VOTING RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. 5
(B) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS IN COLLABOR ATION 6
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND 7
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE VOTER HOTLINE. 8
3–102. 9
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may 10
become registered to vote if the individual: 11
(i) is a citizen of the United States; 12
(ii) is at least 16 years old; 13
(iii) is a resident of the State as of the day the individual seeks to 14
register; and 15
(iv) registers pursuant to this title. 16
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, an individual 17
under the age of 18 years: 18
(i) may vote in a primary election in which candidates are 19
nominated for a general or special election that will occur when the individual is at least 20
18 years old; and 21
(ii) may not vote in any other election. 22
(b) An individual is not qualified to be a registered voter if the individual: 23
(1) [has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a court–ordered 24
sentence of imprisonment for the conviction; 25
(2)] is under guardians hip for mental disability and a court of competent 26
jurisdiction has specifically found by clear and convincing evidence that the individual 27
cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting 28
process; or 29
HOUSE BILL 52 3
[(3)] (2) has been convicted of buying or selling votes. 1
3–504. 2
(a) (1) (i) Information from the agencies specified in this paragraph shall 3
be reported to the State Administrator in a format and at times prescribed by the State 4
Board. 5
(ii) The Maryland Department of Health shall report the names and 6
residence addresses (if known) of all individuals at least 16 years of age reported deceased 7
within the State since the date of the last report. 8
(iii) [Each month, the clerk of the circuit court for each county and 9
the administrative clerk for each District Court shall report the names and addresses of all 10
individuals convicted, in the respective court, of a felony and sentenced to imprisonment 11
with commitment papers. 12
(iv)] The clerk of the circuit court for each county shall report the 13
former and present names and residence addresses (if known) of all individuals whose 14
names have been changed by decree or order of the court since the date of the last report. 15
(2) [The State Administrator shall make arrange ments with the clerk of 16
the United States District Court for the District of Maryland to receive reports of names 17
and addresses, if available, of individuals convicted of a felony in that court and sentenced 18
to imprisonment with commitment papers. 19
(3)] The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the United 20
States Social Security Administration or an entity that receives information from the Social 21
Security Administration and is approved by the State Administrator to receive reports of 22
names and addresses, if available, of all Maryland residents at least 16 years of age who 23
are reported deceased. 24
[16–202. 25
(a) A person who has been convicted of a felony and is currently serving a 26
court–ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction, and ha s been rendered 27
ineligible to vote pursuant to § 3 –102(b) of this article, may not vote or attempt to vote 28
during the time that the person is rendered ineligible to vote. 29
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and is subject to 30
imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years.] 31
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 32
January 1, 2027. 33