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§ 3-202. Contents of voter registration applications

West's Annotated Code of MarylandElection LawEffective: June 1, 2016

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Election Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 3. Voter Registration (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 2. Methods of Application (Refs & Annos)
Effective: June 1, 2016
MD Code, Election Law, § 3-202
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 33, § 3-202
§ 3-202. Contents of voter registration applications
Currentness
Statewide voter registration applications
(a)(1) The statewide voter registration application shall:
(i) require the signature of the applicant, subject to the penalties of perjury, by which the applicant swears or affirms that the information contained in the registration application is true and that the applicant meets all of the qualifications to become a registered voter;
(ii) state the penalties for the submission of a false application; and
(iii) provide the applicant with the opportunity to cancel a current registration.
(2) The following information shall be made available to each applicant who is completing a statewide voter registration application:
(i) the qualifications to become a registered voter;
(ii) if an individual declines to register, this fact will remain confidential and be used only for voter registration purposes;
(iii) if an individual registers to vote, the office at which the application is submitted will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and
(iv) notification to the applicant that submission of the form to an individual other than an official, employee, or agent of a local board does not assure that the form will be filed or filed in a timely manner.
(3) The statewide voter registration application may not require:
(i) notarization or other formal authentication; or
(ii) any additional information, other than the information necessary to enable election officials to determine the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration and other parts of the election process.
(4) In the section of the statewide voter registration application that asks the voter whether the voter wants to affiliate with a political party, the application shall list the recognized political parties in the State and include the following statement: “You must register with a political party if you want to take part in that political party's primary election, caucus, or convention. Check one box only.”.
(5)(i) A statewide voter registration application shall be produced exclusively by the State Board.
(ii) No other registration form may be used for registration purposes except:
1. a voter registration application produced by a local board with the approval of the State Board;
2. as provided in subsection (b) of this section;
3. as provided in § 3-203(b) of this subtitle;
4. any other form prescribed by federal law for voter registration; or
5. a federal write-in absentee ballot if used by a voter authorized to vote a federal write-in absentee ballot under federal law.
National voter registration applications
(b) The voter registration application form prescribed pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 19931 shall satisfy the requirements prescribed under subsection (a) of this section and be accepted by the appropriate election official for purposes of voter registration.
Change of name, address, or party affiliation using voter registration applications
(c) The application described in this section may be used by a registered voter to change the voter's name, address, or party affiliation.

Credits

Added as Art. 33, § 3-202, by Acts 1998, c. 585, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 424, § 2, eff. June 1, 2001. Transferred to Election Law § 3-202 by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2004, c. 19, § 1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2006, c. 354, § 1, eff. May 2, 2006; Acts 2016, c. 172, § 1, eff. June 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 173, § 1, eff. June 1, 2016.
Formerly Art. 33, § 3-202.

Editors' Notes

LEGISLATIVE NOTES
Revisor's Note (Acts 2002, c. 291):
This section formerly was Art. 33, § 3-202.
The only changes are in style.
Defined terms: “Election” § 1-101
“Local board” § 1-101
“State Board” § 1-101
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
2002 Legislation
Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, made stylistic changes to this section.
2004 Legislation
Acts 2004, c. 19, § 1, in subsec. (b), deleted “by the Federal Election Commission” following “prescribed”.
2006 Legislation
Acts 2006, c. 354, § 1, inserted subsec. (a)(4)(ii)5, relating to federal write-in absentee ballots.
2016 Legislation
Acts 2016, c. 172, § 1, and Acts 2016, c. 173, § 1, inserted a new (a)(4); redesignated former (a)(4) as (a)(5); and in (b), inserted “satisfy the requirements prescribed under subsection (a) of this section and”.

Footnotes

1
Pub.L. 103-31, May 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 77, codified 42 U.S.C.A. § 1973gg et seq.
MD Code, Election Law, § 3-202, MD ELEC LAW § 3-202
Current through all legislation from the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
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