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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0073*
SENATE BILL 73
G1 EMERGENCY BILL 6lr0615
SB 66/25 – EEE (PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Ellis
Requested: June 30, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Election Law – Polling Place Procedures – Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters 2
With Disabilities 3
(Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland) 4
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Elections to establish guidelines for the 5
local boards of election to implement a process to accommodate and expedite voting 6
for elderly voters and voters with disabilities at each early voting center and polling 7
place; requiring the local boards to implement the guidelines and collect feedback on 8
the process from elderly voters and voters with disabilities and make immediate 9
adjustments to the process; requiring the training program for election judges to 10
include inst ruction on best practices for assisting elderly voters and voters with 11
disabilities; and generally relating to in –person voting by elderly voters and voters 12
with disabilities. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – Election Law 15
Section 1–101(a) and (u) and 10–206(e) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – Election Law 20
Section 10–206(f) and 10–310.1 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – Election Law 25
Section 10–206(f) and (g) 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27
2 SENATE BILL 73
(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
(u) “Elderly” means 65 years of age or older. 8
10–206. 9
(e) The State Board shall provide election judges with uniform statewide training 10
on the voting system, including: 11
(1) all features of the voting system that provide access to voters with 12
disabilities; and 13
(2) the rights of voters with disabilities, including those rights guaranteed 14
by State and federal law. 15
(F) THE TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE INSTRU CTION ON BEST 16
PRACTICES FOR ASSISTING ELDERLY VOTERS A ND VOTERS WITH DISAB ILITIES, AS 17
DEFINED IN THE FEDER AL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS REQUIRED 18
UNDER § 10–310.1 OF THIS TITLE. 19
[(f)] (G) Each local board shall conduct election judge training based on the 20
program developed by the State Board. 21
[(g)] (H) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each 22
election judge shall participate in the training program provided for in subsection (a) of this 23
section. 24
(2) An election judge who is appointed under emergency circumstances is 25
not required to attend the course of instruction. 26
10–310.1. 27
(A) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCA L 28
BOARDS TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS TO ACCOMMODATE AND EXPEDITE VOTING FOR 29
ELDERLY VOTERS AND V OTERS WITH DISABILIT IES, AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL 30
SENATE BILL 73 3
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AT EACH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND 1
POLLING PLACE IN THE STATE. 2
(B) THE GUIDELINES ESTABL ISHED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER 3
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE: 4
(1) DEDICATED EXPEDITED LINES FOR ELDERLY VO TERS AND 5
VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES; 6
(2) CLEARLY MARKED SIGNA GE INDICATING THE AV AILABILITY OF 7
EXPEDITED SERVICES; 8
(3) PRIORITY SEATING IN WAITING AREAS FOR ELDERLY VOTERS AND 9
VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES; AND 10
(4) SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR HIGH –TRAFFIC EARLY VOTING 11
CENTERS AND POLLING PLACES. 12
(C) THE LOCAL BOARDS SHALL: 13
(1) IMPLEMENT THE GUIDEL INES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE 14
BOARD UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
(2) COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH 16
DISABILITIES ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND EXPEDITED VOTING PROCESS WHILE 17
VOTING AT EARLY VOTI NG CENTERS AND POLLI NG PLACES IS IN PROGRESS AND 18
MAKE IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PROCESS AS NECESSARY. 19
(D) THE STATE BOARD SHALL MONITOR T HE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 20
GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION BY THE LOCAL 21
BOARDS AND SUBMIT A REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 EACH YEAR TO THE 22
GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 23
ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES: 24
(1) ANY CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTING THE GUIDELINES; 25
(2) AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS 26
AND EXPEDITED VOTING PROCESS; 27
(3) A SUMMARY OF FEEDBAC K ON THE ACCOMMODATI ONS AND 28
EXPEDITED VOTING PRO CESS FROM ELDERLY VO TERS AND VOTERS WITH 29
DISABILITIES; AND 30
4 SENATE BILL 73
(4) ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE GUIDELINES. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emer gency 2
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 3
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three –fifths of all the members elected to 4
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect f rom the date it is 5
enacted. 6