Elections - In-Person Voting - Proof of Identity

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0462*

HOUSE BILL 462
G1 6lr1091
HB 91/25 – W&M CF 6lr2207
By: Delegates R. Long, Adams, Anderson, Arentz, Baker, Beauchamp, Bouchat,
Buckel, Ciliberti, Ghrist, Griffith, Hartman, Hinebaugh, Hornberger,
Howard, Hutchinson, Jacobs, Kipke, Mangione, McComas, Metzgar, Miller,
T. Morgan, Nkongolo, Pippy, Reilly, Rose, 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

Elections – In–Person Voting – Proof of Identity 2

FOR the purpose of requiring an election judge to establish a voter’s identity by requiring 3
the voter to present certain proof of identity; requiring a voter to vote a provisional 4
ballot if the voter is unable to provide certain proof of identity; prohibiting a person 5
from knowingly and willfully voting or attempting to vote under a false form of 6
identification; and generally relating to requiring voters to present proof of identity 7
at a polling place. 8

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Election Law 10
Section 10–310 and 16–201 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15

Article – Election Law 16

10–310. 17

(a) For each individual who seeks to vote, an election judge, in accordance with 18
instructions provided by the local board, shall: 19

(1) locate the individual’s name in the election register and locate the 20
preprinted voting authority card and then [authorize the individual to vote a regular ballot] 21
2 HOUSE BILL 462

ESTABLISH THE VOTER ’S IDENTITY AS PROVID ED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 1
SECTION; AND 2

(2) (i) if the individual’s name is not found on the election register, 3
search the inactive list and if the name is found, [authorize the individual to vote a regular 4
ballot] ESTABLISH THE VOTER’S IDENTITY AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 5
SECTION; or 6

(ii) if the individual’s name is not on the inactive list, refer the 7
individual for provisional ballot voting under § 9–404 of this article[;]. 8

[(3)] (B) THE ELECTION JUDGE SHALL establish the VOTER’S identity 9
[of the voter] by: 10

(1) requesting the voter to state the month and day of the voter’s birth and 11
comparing the response to the information listed in the election register; 12

(2) REQUIRING THE VOTER TO PRESENT: 13

(I) A VALID GOVERNMENT–ISSUED PHOTO IDENTIFICATION; OR 14

(II) 1. A VALID NON –GOVERNMENT–ISSUED PHOTO 15
IDENTIFICATION; AND 16

2. A CURRENT UTILITY BI LL, BANK STATEMENT , 17
PAYCHECK, GOVERNMENT CHECK , OR OTHER GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT THAT 18
STATES THE VOTER’S NAME AND ADDRESS; 19

[(4)] (3) (i) except if a voter’s personal informati on has been deemed 20
confidential by the local board, verify the address of the voter’s residence; or 21

(ii) conduct an alternative verification as established by the State 22
Board, if the voter’s personal information has been deemed confidential by the local board; 23

[(5)] (4) if any changes to the voting authority card are indicated by a 24
voter, make the appropriate changes in information on the card or other appropriate form; 25
and 26

[(6)] (5) have the voter sign the voting authority card and either issue the 27
voter a ballot or send the voter to a machine to vote. 28

[(b)] (C) (1) [On] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 29
SECTION, ON the completion of the procedures set forth in [subsection (a)] SUBSECTIONS 30
(A) AND (B) of this section, [a] THE ELECTIO N JUDGE SHALL AUTHOR IZE THE 31
INDIVIDUAL TO VOTE A REGULAR BALLOT. 32
HOUSE BILL 462 3

(2) A voter may vote A REGULAR BALLOT in accordance with the 1
procedures appropriate to the voting system used in the polling place. 2

(D) THE ELECTION JUDGE SH ALL REFER THE INDIVI DUAL FOR A 3
PROVISIONAL BALLOT UNDER § 9–404 OF THIS ARTICLE IF THE VOTER IS UNABLE TO 4
PROVIDE IDENTIFICATI ON AS REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(2) OF THIS 5
SECTION. 6

[(c)] (E) (1) Before a voter enters a voting booth, at the request of the voter, 7
an election judge shall: 8

(i) instruct the voter about the operation of the voting system; and 9

(ii) allow the voter an opportunity to operate a model voting device, 10
if appropriate to the voting system in use. 11

(2) (i) 1. After a voter enters the voting booth, at the request of the 12
voter, two election judges representing different political parties shall instruct the voter on 13
the operation of the voting device. 14

2. An election judge may not suggest in any way how the 15
voter should vote for a particular ticket, candidate, or position on a question. 16

3. After instructing the voter, the election judges shall exit 17
the voting booth and allow the voter to vote privately. 18

(ii) A voter may take into the polling place any written or printed 19
material to assist the voter in marking or preparing the ballot. 20

(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a voter 21
who requires assistance in marking or preparing the ballot because of a physical disability 22
or an inability to read the English language may choose any individual to assist the voter. 23

(ii) A voter may not choose the voter’s employer or agent of that 24
employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union to assist the voter in marking the ballot. 25

(4) If the voter requires the assistance of another in voting but declines to 26
select an individual to assist, an election judge, in the presence of another election judge 27
that represents another political party, shall assist the voter in the manner prescribed by 28
the voter. 29

(5) An individual assisting a voter may not suggest in any way how the 30
voter should vote for a particular ticket, candidate, or position on a question. 31

4 HOUSE BILL 462

(6) If a voter requires assistance under paragraph (4) or (5) of this 1
subsection, the election judge shall record, on a form prescribed by the State Board, the 2
name of the voter who required assistance and the name of the individual providing 3
assistance to the voter. 4

(7) Except as provided in paragraph (3) or (4) of this subsection, an 5
individual over the age of 17 years may not accompany a voter into a voting booth. 6

16–201. 7

(a) In this section, “influence” includes the use of pressure, deception, trickery, or 8
direct or indirect authority to induce action or to change the decision or act of another, 9
regardless of the medium used. 10

(b) A person may not willfully and knowingly: 11

(1) (i) impersonate another person in order to vote or attempt to vote; 12
[or] 13

(ii) vote or attempt to vote under a false name; OR 14

(III) VOTE OR ATTEMPT TO V OTE UNDER A FALSE FO RM OF 15
IDENTIFICATION; 16

(2) vote more than once for a candidate for the same office or for the same 17
ballot question; 18

(3) vote or attempt to vote more than once in the same election, or vote in 19
more than one election district or precinct; 20

(4) vote in an election district or precinct without the legal authority to vote 21
in that election district or precinct; 22

(5) influence or attempt to influence a voter’s voting decision through the 23
use of force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer of reward; 24

(6) influence or attempt to influence a voter’s decision, through the use of 25
force, fraud, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer of reward, whether to: 26

(i) go to the polls to cast a vote; or 27

(ii) vote by other lawful means; or 28

(7) engage in conduct that results or has the intent to result in the denial 29
or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race, 30
color, or disability. 31

HOUSE BILL 462 5

(c) Except as provided in § 16–1002 of this title, a person who violates this section 1
is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or 2
imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both. 3

(d) A person who violates this section is subject to § 5–106(b) of the Courts Article. 4

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 5
January 1, 2027. 6