SB 73

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
1 AN ACT concerning
2 Election Law – Polling Place Procedures – Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters
3With Disabilities
4(Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland)
5 FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Elections to establish guidelines for the
6      local boards of election to implement a process to accommodate and expedite voting
7      for elderly voters and voters with disabilities at each early voting center and polling
8      place; requiring the local boards to implement the guidelines and collect feedback on
9      the process from elderly voters and voters with disabilities and make immediate
10      adjustments to the process; requiring the training program for election judges to
11      include instruction on best practices for assisting elderly voters and voters with
12      disabilities; and generally relating to in–person voting by elderly voters and voters
13      with disabilities.
14 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
15Article – Election Law
16Section 1–101(a) and (u) and 10–206(e)
17Annotated Code of Maryland
18(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
19 BY adding to
20      Article – Election Law
21      Section 10–206(f) and 10–310.1
22      Annotated Code of Maryland
23      (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
24 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
25Article – Election Law
26Section 10–206(f) and (g)
27Annotated Code of Maryland
     EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
  [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
  *sb0073*
2SENATE BILL 73
1(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
2SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
3 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
4Article – Election Law
5 1–101.
6(a)   In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless a
7 different meaning is clearly intended from the context.
8(u)    “Elderly” means 65 years of age or older.
9 10–206.
10(e)    The State Board shall provide election judges with uniform statewide training
11 on the voting system, including:
12(1)   all features of the voting system that provide access to voters with
13 disabilities; and
14(2)   the rights of voters with disabilities, including those rights guaranteed
15 by State and federal law.
16(F)THE TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE INSTRUCTION ON BEST
17 PRACTICES FOR ASSISTING ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES, AS
18 DEFINED IN THE FEDERAL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS REQUIRED
19 UNDER § 10–310.1 OF THIS TITLE.
20[(f)] (G)   Each local board shall conduct election judge training based on the
21 program developed by the State Board.
22[(g)] (H)     (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each
23 election judge shall participate in the training program provided for in subsection (a) of this
24 section.
25(2)    An election judge who is appointed under emergency circumstances is
26 not required to attend the course of instruction.
27 10–310.1.
28(A)    THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCAL
29 BOARDS TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS TO ACCOMMODATE AND EXPEDITE VOTING FOR
30 ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES, AS DEFINED IN THE FEDERAL
  SENATE BILL 73  3
1 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AT EACH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND
2 POLLING PLACE IN THE STATE.
3      (B) THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD UNDER
4 SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE:
5(1) DEDICATED EXPEDITED LINES FOR ELDERLY VOTERS AND
6 VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES;
7(2) CLEARLY MARKED SIGNAGE INDICATING THE AVAILABILITY OF
8 EXPEDITED SERVICES;
9(3) PRIORITY SEATING IN WAITING AREAS FOR ELDERLY VOTERS AND
10 VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES; AND
11(4)SPECIFIC PROVISIONS     FOR    HIGH–TRAFFIC   EARLY   VOTING
12 CENTERS AND POLLING PLACES.
13      (C)   THE LOCAL BOARDS SHALL:
14(1)IMPLEMENT THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE  STATE
15 BOARD UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND
16(2)  COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH
17 DISABILITIES ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND EXPEDITED VOTING PROCESS WHILE
18 VOTING AT EARLY VOTING CENTERS AND POLLING PLACES IS IN PROGRESS AND
19 MAKE IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PROCESS AS NECESSARY.
20      (D)  THE STATE BOARD SHALL MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
21 GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION BY THE LOCAL
22 BOARDS AND SUBMIT A REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 EACH YEAR TO THE
23 GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT
24 ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES:
25(1)   ANY CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTING THE GUIDELINES;
26(2) AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS
27 AND EXPEDITED VOTING PROCESS;
28(3)  A SUMMARY OF FEEDBACK ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND
29 EXPEDITED VOTING PROCESS FROM ELDERLY VOTERS AND VOTERS WITH
30 DISABILITIES; AND
4SENATE BILL 73
1(4)    ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE GUIDELINES.
2SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
3 measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has
4 been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to
5 each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
6 enacted.