Secure the Vote Act of 2026

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0964*

HOUSE BILL 964
G1, L3, E5 6lr1824

By: Delegates Grammer, Adams, Anderson, Arentz, Arikan, Baker, Beauchamp,
Bouchat, Buckel, Chisholm, Ciliberti, Fisher, Ghrist, Hartman, Hinebaugh,
Hornberger, Howard, Hutchinson, Jacobs, Kipke, R. Long, Mangione,
McComas, Metzgar, Miller, M. Morgan, T. Morgan, Nawrocki, Nkongolo,
Pippy, Reilly, Schmidt, Szeliga, Tomlinson, Valentine, and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Secure the Vote Act of 2026 2

FOR the purpose of repealing the requirements that the Baltimore City centralized booking 3
facility provide a ballot drop box to eligible voters and the State Board of Elections 4
provide a ballot drop box to the Baltimore City centralized booking facility; repealing 5
the requirement that each local board of elections designate locations in the county 6
at which ballot drop b oxes will be placed and submit the proposed locations to the 7
State Administrator of Elections ; repealing security requirements and procedures 8
relating to ballot drop boxes; repealing provisions of law governing permanent 9
absentee ballot status; repealing the authority to conduct special elections by mail; 10
establishing requirements related to proof of citizenship of individuals registering to 11
vote, voter identification, absentee ballot signature verification, audits of the 12
statewide voter registration list, and the conduct of municipal elections ; restricting 13
absentee voting to individuals who are unable to vote in person due to certain 14
circumstances; establishing prohibitions related to the return of absentee ballots, the 15
counting of absentee ballots, and municipal voter registration of individuals who are 16
not citizens of the United States; and generally relating to the conduct of elections. 17

BY repealing 18
Article – Correctional Services 19
Section 2–501 and the subtitle “Subtitle 5. Ballot Drop Box” 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2025 Replacement Volume) 22

BY repealing 23
Article – Election Law 24
2 HOUSE BILL 964

Section 1–101(d–1), 1–303.1, 2 –304, 2 –305, 3–204(c)(4)(iii)7., and 9–311.1; 9–501 1
through 9 –507 and the subtitle “S ubtitle 5. Voting by Mail in Special 2
Elections”; and 16–206(a)(11) and (12) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5

BY adding to 6
Article – Election Law 7
Section 2–111, 3–201.1, 3–504.1, 9–303(b)(12), 9–310.1, 9–310.2, and 9–407.1 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Election Law 12
Section 2–303.1(b), 3 –204(c)(4)(iii)6. and 8., 3 –402, 9–303(b)(10) and (11), 9 –304, 13
9–305(a), 10–310, and 16–206(a)(9) and (10) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – Election Law 18
Section 3–403(a) and 9–303(a) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21

BY adding to 22
Article – Local Government 23
Section 4–108.6 and 4–108.7 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26

Preamble 27

WHEREAS, Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of representative democracy; 28
and 29

WHEREAS, Maryland citizens must have confidence that only eligible voters are 30
registered and permitted to cast ballots; and 31

WHEREAS, Uniform safeguards are necessary to prevent fraud, protect 32
transparency, and ensure every legal vote is counted; and 33

WHEREAS, Secure and transparent procedures, audits, and chain of custody 34
protections are required to maintain public trust in Maryland’s election system; and 35

WHEREAS, The purpose of this Act is to strengthen voter identification 36
requirements, correct and prevent voter registration violations, secure absentee voting, 37
HOUSE BILL 964 3

mandate auditable, verifiable elections, ensure municipal elections meet statewide 1
standards, protect the chain of custody of ballots, and affirm that only U.S. citizens may 2
vote in Maryland elections; now, therefore, 3

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That Section(s) 2–501 and the subtitle “Subtitle 5. Ballot Drop Box” of Article – Correctional 5
Services of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed. 6

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section(s) 1–101(d–1), 7
1–303.1, 2–304, 2–305, and 9–311.1; and 9–501 through 9–507 and the subtitle “Subtitle 5. 8
Voting by Mail in Special Elections” of Article – Election Law of the Annotated Code of 9
Maryland be repealed. 10

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 11
as follows: 12

Article – Election Law 13

2–111. 14

(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO ISSUE PHOTO 15
IDENTIFICATION FOR V OTING PURPOSES TO A RESIDENT OF THE STATE ON 16
REQUEST. 17

(B) THE PHOTO IDENTIFICAT ION ISSUED UNDER THI S SECTION SATISFIES 18
THE IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN PERSON AT A POLLING PLACE 19
UNDER § 10–310(B)(2) OF THIS ARTICLE. 20

(C) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN THE PHOTO 21
IDENTIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION AT ANY PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE STATE. 22

(D) THE STATE BOARD AND EACH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM SHALL 23
COLLABORATE TO OPERATE THE PROGRAM. 24

(E) THE STATE BOARD MAY ADOPT REGUL ATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 25
SECTION. 26

2–303.1. 27

(b) An election plan shall include: 28

(1) a polling place plan that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this 29
section; 30

4 HOUSE BILL 964

(2) [a ballot drop box plan developed in accordance with § 2 –304 of this 1
subtitle; 2

(3)] an early voting center plan that meets the requirements of subsection 3
(d) of this section; and 4

[(4)] (3) an analysis of how to maximize voter participation in the county 5
and each precinct. 6

3–201.1. 7

(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS ESTABLISHIN G A 8
PROCESS THROUGH WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO AP PLIES TO REGISTER TO VOTE 9
THROUGH A METHOD AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS TITLE SHALL PRO VIDE 10
DOCUMENTARY PROOF THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 11

(B) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT BECOME REGISTERED TO VOTE UNTIL THE 12
INDIVIDUAL PROVIDES THE DOCUMENTATION OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED BY 13
REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 14

3–204. 15

(c) (4) The student voting plan shall include: 16

(iii) reasonable accommodation and collaboration with the local 17
board regarding: 18

6. public education campaign; AND 19

[7. ballot drop box siting; and] 20

[8.] 7. any other factors relating to the conduct of an election; 21

3–402. 22

This subtitle does not apply to a municipal corporation that: 23

(1) [does not require voter registration for its elections; 24

(2)] prior to January 1, 1990, used the voter registry supplied by the local 25
board as qualification for voting in municipal elections; or 26

[(3)] (2) provides for the local board to conduct municipal elections. 27

3–403. 28
HOUSE BILL 964 5

(a) A voter residing in a municipal corporation is considered to be registered for 1
elections in that municipal corporation if the voter is included on the statewide voter 2
registration list at an address within the municipal corporation. 3

3–504.1. 4

(A) BEFORE EACH STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION , THE STATE BOARD 5
SHALL CONDUCT A COMP REHENSIVE AUDIT OF THE STATEWIDE VOT ER 6
REGISTRATION LIST. 7

(B) THE AUDIT SHALL SEEK TO DETECT AND R EMOVE FROM THE 8
STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST: 9

(1) DUPLICATE REGISTRATIONS; 10

(2) DECEASED INDIVIDUALS; 11

(3) NONRESIDENTS OF THE STATE; AND 12

(4) INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. 13

(C) THE AUDIT SHALL INCLUDE IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT 14
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST 15
BY REVIEWING DATA FROM THE JURY COMMISSIONERS O N INDIVIDUALS WHO 16
REPORT TO THE JURY COMMISSI ONERS THAT THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS OF THE 17
UNITED STATES. 18

(D) THE AUDIT SHALL BE CO MPLETED AT LEAST 90 DAYS BEFORE EACH 19
STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION. 20

(E) PROMPTLY AFTER THE CO NCLUSION OF EACH AUD IT, THE STATE 21
BOARD SHALL PUBLISH O N ITS WEBSITE A REPO RT DESCRIBING THE RE SULTS OF 22
THE AUDIT , INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF VOTER REGISTRATIO N RECORDS 23
INVESTIGATED, UPDATED, AND REMOVED. 24

9–303. 25

(a) The State Board shall establish guidelines for the administration of absentee 26
voting by the local boards. 27

(b) The guidelines shall provide for: 28

6 HOUSE BILL 964

(10) storage and retention of ballots following canvass and certification; 1
[and] 2

(11) the permanent absentee ballot list; AND 3

(12) VERIFICATION OF SIGN ATURES ON ABSENTEE B ALLOT 4
ENVELOPES. 5

9–304. 6

An individual may vote by absentee ballot except to the extent preempted under an 7
applicable federal law AND ONLY IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNABLE TO VOTE IN PERSON 8
DUE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES: 9

(1) ABSENCE FROM THE STATE; 10

(2) ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY; 11

(3) RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE; 12

(4) PREGNANCY; 13

(5) CAREGIVING TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL; 14

(6) JURY DUTY; 15

(7) INCARCERATION; 16

(8) SERVICE IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES; 17

(9) PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS; OR 18

(10) DISLOCATION DUE TO A NATURAL DISASTER OR OTHER 19
EMERGENCY. 20

9–305. 21

(a) (1) A voter may request an absentee ballot by completing and submitting: 22

[(1)] (I) the State Board approved absentee ballot application; 23

[(2)] (II) a form provided under federal law; 24

HOUSE BILL 964 7

[(3)] (III) subject to subsection (b) of this section, a written request that 1
includes: 2

[(i)] 1. the voter’s name, residence address, and signature; and 3

[(ii)] 2. the address to which the ballot is to be mailed, if different 4
from the residence address; or 5

[(4)] (IV) the accessible online absentee ballot application provided by the 6
State Board. 7

(2) A REQUEST FOR AN ABSEN TEE BALLOT SUBMITTED UNDER 8
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE A SIGNED OATH AFFIRMING 9
THAT THE VOTER QUALIFIES TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT UNDER § 9–304 OF THIS 10
SUBTITLE. 11

9–310.1. 12

AN ABSENTEE BALLOT MAY NOT BE RETURNED TO A LOCAL BOARD THROUGH 13
A BALLOT DROP BOX. 14

9–310.2. 15

(A) A LOCAL BOARD MAY NOT REMOVE AN ABSENTEE B ALLOT FROM THE 16
RETURN ENVELOPE OR BALLOT/RETURN ENVELOPE OR C OUNT THE BALLOT 17
UNLESS: 18

(1) THE RETURN ENVELOPE OR BALLOT /RETURN ENVELOPE IS 19
SIGNED BY THE VOTER TO WHOM THE BALLOT WAS ISSUED; AND 20

(2) THE VOTER ’S SIGNATURE IS VERIF IED AS PROVIDED IN 21
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 22

(B) EACH LOCAL BOARD SHALL VERIFY THE SIGNATURE OF THE VOTER ON 23
THE RETURN ENVELOPE OR BALLOT /RETURN ENVELOPE BY C OMPARING THE 24
SIGNATURE WITH THE V OTER’S REGISTRATION RECOR D IN ACCORDANCE WITH 25
REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD. 26

9–407.1. 27

PROMPTLY FOLLOW ING EACH STATEWIDE E LECTION, THE STATE BOARD 28
SHALL PUBLISH A REPORT ON ITS WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES THE NUMBER OF: 29

8 HOUSE BILL 964

(1) VOTERS WHO PROVIDED IDENTIFICATION AT A POLLING PLACE AS 1
REQUIRED UNDER § 10–310(B)(2) OF THIS ARTICLE; 2

(2) VOTERS WHO CAST A PROVISIONAL B ALLOT UNDER § 3
9–404(B)(2)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY PROVIDED 4
IDENTIFICATION TO THE LOCAL BOARD, RESULTING IN THE PRO VISIONAL BALLOT 5
BEING COUNTED; AND 6

(3) VOTERS WHO CAST A PROVISIONAL B ALLOT UNDER § 7
9–404(B)(2)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO PROVIDE 8
IDENTIFICATION TO TH E LOCAL BOARD , RESULTING IN REJECTI ON OF THE 9
PROVISIONAL BALLOT. 10

10–310. 11

(a) For each individual who seeks to vote, an election judge, in accordance with 12
instructions provided by the local board, shall: 13

(1) locate the individual’s name in the election register and locate the 14
preprinted voting authority card and then [authorize the individual to vote a regular ballot] 15
ESTABLISH THE VOTER ’S IDENTITY AS PROVID ED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 16
SECTION; AND 17

(2) (i) if the individual’s name is not found on the election register, 18
search the inactive list and if the name is found, [authorize the individual to vote a regular 19
ballot] ESTABLISH THE VOTER’S IDENTITY AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 20
SECTION; or 21

(ii) if the individual’s name is not on the inactive list, refer the 22
individual for provisional ballot voting under § 9–404 of this article[;]. 23

[(3)] (B) THE ELECTION JUDGE SHALL establish the VOTER’S identity 24
[of the voter] by: 25

(1) requesting the voter to state the month and day of the voter’s birth and 26
comparing the response to the information listed in the election register; 27

(2) REQUIRING THE VOTER TO PRESENT: 28

(I) A VALID GOVERNMENT –ISSUED PHOTO IDENTIF ICATION, 29
INCLUDING PHOTO IDENTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER § 2–111 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR 30

HOUSE BILL 964 9

(II) THE VOTER’S VOTER NOTIFICATION CARD AND A CURRENT 1
UTILITY BILL , BANK STATEMENT , GOVERNMENT CHECK , PAYCHECK, OR OTHER 2
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT WITH THE VOTER’S NAME AND CURRENT ADDRESS; 3

[(4)] (3) (i) except if a voter’s personal information has been deemed 4
confidential by the local board, verify the address of the voter’s residence; or 5

(ii) conduct an alternative verifi cation as established by the State 6
Board, if the voter’s personal information has been deemed confidential by the local board; 7

[(5)] (4) if any changes to the voting authority card are indicated by a 8
voter, make the appropriate changes in information on the card or other appropriate form; 9
and 10

[(6)] (5) have the voter sign the voting authority card and either issue the 11
voter a ballot or send the voter to a machine to vote. 12

[(b)] (C) (1) [On] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 13
SECTION, ON the completion of the procedures set forth in [subsection (a)] SUBSECTIONS 14
(A) AND (B) of this section, [a] THE ELECTION JUDGE S HALL AUTHORIZE THE 15
INDIVIDUAL TO VOTE A REGULAR BALLOT. 16

(2) A voter may vote A REGULAR BALLOT in accordance with the 17
procedures appropriate to the voting system used in the polling place. 18

(D) THE ELECTION JUDGE SH ALL REFER THE INDIVI DUAL FOR A 19
PROVISIONAL BALLOT UNDER § 9–404 OF THIS ARTICLE IF THE VOTER IS UNABLE TO 20
PROVIDE IDENTIFICATI ON AS RE QUIRED UNDER SUBSECT ION (B)(2) OF THIS 21
SECTION. 22

[(c)] (E) (1) Before a voter enters a voting booth, at the request of the voter, 23
an election judge shall: 24

(i) instruct the voter about the operation of the voting system; and 25

(ii) allow the voter an opportunity to operate a model voting device, 26
if appropriate to the voting system in use. 27

(2) (i) 1. After a voter enters the voting booth, at the request of the 28
voter, two election judges representing different political parties shall instruct the voter on 29
the operation of the voting device. 30

2. An election judge may not suggest in any way how the 31
voter should vote for a particular ticket, candidate, or position on a question. 32

10 HOUSE BILL 964

3. After instructing the voter, the election judges shall exit 1
the voting booth and allow the voter to vote privately. 2

(ii) A voter may take into the polling place any written or printed 3
material to assist the voter in marking or preparing the ballot. 4

(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a voter 5
who requires assistance in marking or preparing the ballot because of a physical disability 6
or an inability to read the English language may choose any individual to assist the voter. 7

(ii) A voter may not choose the voter’s employer or agent of that 8
employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union to assist the voter in marking the ballot. 9

(4) If the voter requires the assistance of another in voting but declines to 10
select an individual to assist, an election judge, in the presence of another election judge 11
that represents another political party, shall assist the voter in the manner prescribed by 12
the voter. 13

(5) An individual assisting a voter may not suggest in any way how the 14
voter should vote for a particular ticket, candidate, or position on a question. 15

(6) If a voter requires assistance under paragraph (4) or (5) of this 16
subsection, the election judge shall record, on a form prescribed by the State Board, the 17
name of the voter who required assistance and the name of the indivi dual providing 18
assistance to the voter. 19

(7) Except as provided in paragraph (3) or (4) of this subsection, an 20
individual over the age of 17 years may not accompany a voter into a voting booth. 21

16–206. 22

(a) A person may not: 23

(9) possess on or before the day of election an official ballot printed for the 24
election, unless the possession of the ballot is necessary and appropriate for carrying out 25
the election process; OR 26

(10) canvass, electioneer, or post any campaign material in the polling place 27
or beyond a line established by signs posted in accordance with subsection (b) of this 28
section[; 29

(11) canvass, electioneer, or post any campaign material in a manner that 30
obstructs access to a ballot drop box; or 31

(12) place any campaign material or any other unauthorized material on a 32
ballot drop box]. 33

HOUSE BILL 964 11

Article – Local Government 1

4–108.6. 2

(A) THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS 3
ESTABLISHING UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR THE CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL 4
ELECTIONS. 5

(B) THE REGULATIONS SHALL BE SUBSTANTIALLY SIM ILAR TO THE 6
STATUTES AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN STATE ELECTIONS , MODIFIED AS 7
NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. 8

(C) THE REGULATIONS SHALL INCLUDE: 9

(1) VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR IN –PERSON 10
VOTERS; 11

(2) VOTER REGISTRATION LIST MAINTENANCE; 12

(3) BALLOT SECURITY AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY PROCEDURES; AND 13

(4) ELECTION AUDITS. 14

(D) THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CONDUCT OVERSI GHT OF 15
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REGULATIONS. 16

4–108.7. 17

(A) EACH MUNICIPALITY SHA LL REQUIRE VOTER REG ISTRATION FOR ITS 18
ELECTIONS. 19

(B) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT BECOME REGISTERED TO V OTE IN A 20
MUNICIPAL ELECTION IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 21

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 22
1, 2026. 23