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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0454*
HOUSE BILL 454
G1 EMERGENCY BILL 6lr1113
By: Delegates Hornberger, Adams, Anderson, Arentz, Baker, Beauchamp,
Bouchat, Buckel, Ciliberti, Ghrist, Griffith, Hartman, Hinebaugh, Howard,
Hutchinson, Jacobs, Kipke, R. Long, Mangione, McComas, Miller,
T. Morgan, Nkongolo, Pippy, Reilly, Rose, Schmidt, Tomlinson, Valentine,
and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Voter Registration Eligibility – U.S. Citizenship Verification 2
(SAVE Our Elections Act of 2026) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Administrator of Elections to enroll the State in the 4
federal Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement (SAVE) Program for a certain 5
purpose; requiring the State Board of Elections to establish a process to verify the 6
U.S. citizenship of certain individuals applying to or who have r egistered to vote in 7
the State; requiring the State Board to establish a certain appeal process for certain 8
individuals who dispute a certain report that the individual lacks U.S. citizenship; 9
and generally relating to verification of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Election Law 12
Section 1–101(a), 3–101(a), 3–102(a), and 3–504(b)(1) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Election Law 17
Section 1–101(nn–1) and 3–603 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – Election Law 22
Section 3–101(c), 3–301, 3–305(e), 3–306(e), and 3–504(a) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
2 HOUSE BILL 454
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Election Law 4
1–101. 5
(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless a 6
different meaning is clearly intended from the context. 7
(NN–1) “SAVE PROGRAM” MEANS THE FEDERAL SYSTEMATIC ALIEN 8
VERIFICATION OF ENTITLEMENT (SAVE) PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE U.S. 9
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 10
HOMELAND SECURITY. 11
3–101. 12
(a) There shall be a statewide voter registration list. 13
(c) The State Administrator shall: 14
(1) define, maintain, and administer the statewide voter registration list; 15
(2) with the local boards, ensure the currency and accuracy of each 16
individual voter’s registration record; 17
(3) instruct the local boards on: 18
(i) processing voter registration applications and name and address 19
changes; 20
(ii) entering voter registration information into the statewide voter 21
registration list; and 22
(iii) removing from the statewide voter registration list information 23
about voters who are no longer eligible to be registered voters; [and] 24
(4) subject to relevant federal law and to regulations adopted by the State 25
Board, establish and conduct a program to identify voters who have changed their 26
addresses; AND 27
(5) ENROLL THE STATE IN THE SAVE PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE 28
OF VERIFYING THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO H AVE APPLIED TO 29
HOUSE BILL 454 3
REGISTER TO VOTE OR HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1
PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE. 2
3–102. 3
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may 4
become registered to vote if the individual: 5
(i) is a citizen of the United States; 6
(ii) is at least 16 years old; 7
(iii) is a resident of the State as of the day the individual seeks to 8
register; and 9
(iv) registers pursuant to this title. 10
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, an individual 11
under the age of 18 years: 12
(i) may vote in a primary election in which candidates are 13
nominated for a general or special election that will occur when the individual is at least 14
18 years old; and 15
(ii) may not vote in any other election. 16
3–301. 17
(a) When a voter registration application is received by a local board, the local 18
board shall: 19
(1) if the applicant resides in the county of the local board, determine 20
whether the applicant is qualified to become a registered voter , INCLUDING BY 21
VERIFYING THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP OF THE APPLICANT THROUGH TH E SAVE 22
PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD; or 23
(2) if the applicant resides in a different county in the State, immediately 24
forward the application to the proper county. 25
(b) The information contained in the voter registration application for a qualified 26
applicant shall be electronically entered into the statewide voter registration list on an 27
expedited basis at the time voter registration information is provided to the local board and 28
shall be assigned to the county in which the applicant resides unless registration is closed 29
pursuant to § 3–302 of this subtitle. 30
(c) (1) The election director in the county where an applicant resides shall 31
send a voter acknowledgment notice, in a format prescribed by the State Board, to each 32
4 HOUSE BILL 454
applicant informing the applicant whether he or she is qualified to become registered, and, 1
if not qualified, the reasons why. 2
(2) (i) A voter notification card sent to a qualified applicant may serve 3
as a voter acknowledgment notice. 4
(ii) 1. The voter notification card shall contain the name and 5
address of the voter, the date of issue, and the district or ward and precinct of the voter. 6
2. The card is evidence that the individual to whom it is 7
issued is a registered voter on the date appearing on the card. 8
3. The election director shall issue a replacement card on 9
request of the voter an d a new card when a relevant change is made in the voter’s 10
registration record if the voter continues to reside in the county. 11
3–305. 12
(e) (1) The State Board shall adopt regulations and procedures in accordance 13
with the requirements of this section for the administration of voter registration during 14
early voting. 15
(2) THE REGULATIONS REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS 16
SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE: 17
(I) A PROCESS TO VERIFY AN APPLICANT’S U.S. CITIZENSHIP 18
THROUGH THE SAVE PROGRAM; AND 19
(II) AN APPEAL PROCESS TO DISPUTE R EPORTS OF THE SAVE 20
PROGRAM THAT AN INDIV IDUAL LACKS U.S. CITIZENSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 21
3–603 OF THIS TITLE. 22
3–306. 23
(e) (1) The State Board shall adopt regulations and procedures in accordance 24
with the requirements of this section for the administration of voter registration on election 25
day. 26
(2) THE REGULATIONS UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 27
SHALL INCLUDE: 28
(I) A PROCESS TO VERIFY AN APPLICANT’S U.S. CITIZENSHIP 29
THROUGH THE SAVE PROGRAM; AND 30
HOUSE BILL 454 5
(II) AN APPEAL PROCESS TO DISPUTE REPORTS O F THE SAVE 1
PROGRAM THAT AN INDIV IDUAL LACKS U.S. CITIZENSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2
3–603 OF THIS TITLE. 3
3–504. 4
(a) (1) (i) Information from the agencies specified in this paragraph shall 5
be reported to the State Administrator in a fo rmat and at times prescribed by the State 6
Board. 7
(ii) The Maryland Department of Health shall report the names and 8
residence addresses (if known) of all individuals at least 16 years of age reported deceased 9
within the State since the date of the last report. 10
(iii) Each month, the clerk of the circuit court for each county and the 11
administrative clerk for each District Court shall report the names and addresses of all 12
individuals convicted, in the respective court, of a felony and sentenced to impri sonment 13
with commitment papers. 14
(iv) The clerk of the circuit court for each county shall report the 15
former and present names and residence addresses (if known) of all individuals whose 16
names have been changed by decree or order of the court since the date of the last report. 17
(2) The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the clerk of the 18
United States District Court for the District of Maryland to receive reports of names and 19
addresses, if available, of individuals convicted of a felony in that court and sentenced to 20
imprisonment with commitment papers. 21
(3) The State Administrator shall make arrangements with the United 22
States Social Security Administration or an entity that receives information from the Social 23
Security Administration and is approved by the State Administrator to receive reports of 24
names and addresses, if available, of all Maryland residents at least 16 years of age who 25
are reported deceased. 26
(4) THE STATE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH 27
U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF N AMES 28
OF MARYLAND RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE SAVE PROGRAM 29
FOR VERIFICATION OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF V OTER 30
REGISTRATION IN THE STATE. 31
(b) (1) The State Administrator shall transmit to the appropriate local board 32
information gathered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 33
3–603. 34
6 HOUSE BILL 454
(A) IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES ESTABLISH ED BY THE STATE 1
BOARD, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DI SPUTES A REPORT OF T HE SAVE PROGRAM THAT 2
THE INDIVIDUAL LACKS U.S. CITIZENSHIP MAY FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE STATE 3
BOARD. 4
(B) WHENEVER A REPORT IS RECEIVED FROM THE SAVE PROGRAM UNDER 5
§ 3–504(A)(4) OF THIS TITLE WITH THE NAME OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS APPLIED 6
TO REGISTER OR REGISTERED TO VOTE BUT IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN, THE 7
APPROPRIATE ELECTION DIRECTOR SHALL MAIL TO THE ADDR ESS SHOWN ON THE 8
VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION OR STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST, BY 9
REGULAR U.S. MAIL, A NOTICE OF INELIGIBILITY STATING: 10
(1) THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN AS REPORTED BY THE 11
SAVE PROGRAM; 12
(2) THE INDIVIDUAL IS INELIGIBLE TO REG ISTER TO VOTE UNDER § 13
3–102 OF THIS TITLE; AND 14
(3) UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL APPEALS THE SAVE PROGRAM REPORT 15
OF LACK OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH S UBSECTION (C) OF THIS 16
SECTION: 17
(I) THE INDIVIDUAL’S VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION IS 18
REJECTED; OR 19
(II) THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE STATEWIDE 20
VOTER REGISTRATION LIST. 21
(C) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVES A NOTIC E OF INELIGIBILITY UNDER 22
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION MAY: 23
(1) FILE AN APPEAL TO THE REFUSAL TO REGISTER OR THE REMOVAL 24
FROM THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST WITH THE STATE BOARD; AND 25
(2) PROVIDE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE 26
STATE BOARD OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP. 27
(D) (1) IF THE INDIVIDUAL FILES A TIMELY APPEAL UNDER SUBSECTION 28
(C) OF THIS SECTION, THE STATE ADMINISTRATOR MAY, AFTER CONSIDERATION OF 29
THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE PROVIDED, DIRECT AN ELECTION DIRECTOR TO: 30
(I) ADD THE INDIVIDUAL T O THE STATEWIDE VOTE R 31
REGISTRATION LIST; 32
HOUSE BILL 454 7
(II) TERMINATE THE REMOVA L PROCESS AND RETAIN THE 1
INDIVIDUAL ON THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST; OR 2
(III) REFER THE MATTER TO THE LOCAL BOARD FOR A HEARING 3
TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL’S U.S. CITIZENSHIP. 4
(2) IF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RE CEIVES A NOTICE OF I NELIGIBILITY 5
UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION FAILS TO FILE TIMELY AN APPEAL, THE 6
ELECTION DIRECTOR SHALL: 7
(I) REJECT THE INDIVIDUAL ’S VOTER REGISTRATION 8
APPLICATION; OR 9
(II) CANCEL THE INDIVIDUAL ’S VOTER REGISTRATION AND 10
REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST. 11
(E) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 12
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMEN T OF AN APPEAL 13
PROCESS FOR DISPUTES OF A REPORT OF THE SAVE PROGRAM THAT THE 14
INDIVIDUAL LACKS U.S. CITIZENSHIP. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 16
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 17
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three –fifths of all the members elected to 18
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from th e date it is 19
enacted. 20