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*hb1083*
HOUSE BILL 1083
G1 6lr0637
By: Montgomery County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Montgomery County Board of Elections – Membership 2
MC 6–26 3
FOR the purpose of altering the membership of the Montgomery County Board of Elections; 4
altering the votes required for the county board to appoint an election director; and 5
generally relating to the Montgomery County Board of Elections. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Election Law 8
Section 2–201, 2–202(e), and 11–301(f) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Election Law 14
2–201. 15
(a) (1) There is a county board of elections in each county of the State. 16
(2) Each local board and its staff is subject to the direction and authority 17
of the State Board and is accountable to the State Board for its actions in all matters 18
2 HOUSE BILL 1083
regarding the implementation of the requirements of this article and any applicable federal 1
law. 2
(b) (1) (i) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, 3
each local board consists of five regular members. 4
(ii) Three regular member s shall be of the majority party, and two 5
regular members shall be of the principal minority party. 6
(2) (i) In Prince George’s County, the local board consists of five regular 7
members and three substitute members. 8
(ii) Four regular members and two s ubstitute members shall be of 9
the majority party, and one regular member and one substitute member shall be of the 10
principal minority party. 11
(3) (i) In Montgomery County, the local board consists of [five] SEVEN 12
regular members [and two substitute members]. 13
(ii) [Three] FOUR regular members [and one substitute member ] 14
shall be of the majority party, and [two] THREE regular members [and one substitute 15
member] shall be of the principal minority party. 16
(c) Each regular member of a local board and each substitute member of a local 17
board shall: 18
(1) be appointed in accordance with subsection (g) of this section; 19
(2) be a registered voter in the county for which the individual is appointed 20
for the 5 years immediately preceding the appointment; and 21
(3) be eligible for reappointment. 22
(d) (1) The term of a member is 4 years and begins on the first Monday in June 23
of each year following a gubernatorial election. 24
(2) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 25
appointed and qualifies. 26
(e) Before taking office, a member shall take and subscribe to the oath prescribed 27
in Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution. 28
(f) The Governor may remove a member for incompetence, misconduct, or other 29
good cause, upon written charges stating the Governor’s grounds for dismissal and after 30
affording the member notice and an ample opportunity to be heard. 31
HOUSE BILL 1083 3
(g) (1) The Governor shall request the county central committee representing 1
the majority party or the principal minority party, as appropriate, to submit a list of at 2
least four eligible individuals from which the Governor may make an appointment of a 3
regular member of a local board or a substitute member of the local board. 4
(2) The Governor may reject all of the nominees if the Governor determines 5
them to be unfit or incompetent, in which case the Governor shall notify the State Board in 6
writing and request an additional list of at least four eligible nominees from the county 7
central committee. A third list may be requested in the same manner. 8
(3) If a list containing the names of four eligible nominees is not submitted 9
within 20 days of a request or if all the nominees on three lists are rejected, the Governor 10
may appoint any eligible person who is a member of the appropriate political party. 11
(4) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, each 12
appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate of Maryland. 13
(ii) In Caroline, Dorchester, and Kent counties, if there is no resident 14
Senator of the particular county, the confirmation required under subparagraph (i) of this 15
paragraph shall be by the House of Delegates of Maryland. 16
(iii) If an appointee is rejected, the Governor shall make another 17
appointment from the list or lists submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection. 18
If a list is not provided, or the nominees on three lists are rejected, the Governor may 19
appoint an eligible individual as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection. 20
(h) (1) Except in [Montgomery County and ] Prince George’s County, if a 21
vacancy occurs on the local board, the Governor shall appoint an eligible person from the 22
same political party as the predecessor member to fill the vacancy in accordance with 23
subsection (g) of this section for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor 24
is appointed and qualifies. 25
(2) An appointment made while the General Assembly is not in session 26
shall be considered temporary until the appointee is confirmed by the General Assembly. 27
(i) (1) This subsection applies only in [Montgomery County and ] Prince 28
George’s County. 29
(2) In the event of the absence of a regular member or a vacancy in the 30
office of a regular member, the substitute member of the same political party shall exercise 31
the powers and duties of a regular member until the regular member returns or the vacancy 32
is filled as prescribed in this subsection. 33
(3) Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, if a member of a local board 34
dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes ineligible: 35
4 HOUSE BILL 1083
(i) the substitute member belonging to the same political party shall 1
become a regular member of the local board; and 2
(ii) the Governor shall appoint an eligible person from the same 3
political party to be the new substitute member. 4
(4) [In Prince George’s County, if ] IF a vacancy occurs on the local board 5
among the members from the majority party, the Governor shall designate one of the 6
substitute members from that party to fill the vacancy. 7
(5) If a substitute member of a local board becomes a regular member as 8
provided in paragraph (3)(i) of this subsection, dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes 9
ineligible when the confirming legislative body is not in session, the Governor shall appoint 10
an eligible person from the same political party as th e predecessor substitute member to 11
fill the vacancy. That individual shall serve until the earlier of: 12
(i) the adjournment of the next session of the General Assembly; or 13
(ii) the appointment of another individual to fill the same vacancy. 14
(j) A board shall meet within 20 days after the beginning of the term to elect one 15
of its regular members as president. 16
2–202. 17
(e) In Montgomery County, the local board shall require an affirmative vote of 18
not fewer than [three] FOUR duly confirmed regular me mbers of the local board, at least 19
one of whom shall be a member of the principal minority party, to appoint an election 20
director. 21
11–301. 22
(f) In [Montgomery County and ] Prince George’s County, if a member is not 23
present at the scheduled time for vote c anvassing, a substitute member of the board of 24
canvassers may be sworn in. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That each substitute member of 26
the Montgomery County Board of Elections in office on the effective date of this Act shall 27
become a regular member on the effective date of this Act for the remainder of the member’s 28
term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 29
SECTION 3. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 30
June 1, 2026 7, 2027. 31