(a)(1) Each local board shall designate a polling place that meets the requirements of this subsection for each precinct in the county as established by the local board in accordance with Title 2 of this article.
(2) Each polling place shall:
(i) provide an environment that is suitable to the proper conduct of an election;
(ii) be located as conveniently as practicable for the majority of registered voters assigned to that polling place;
(iii) except as authorized in paragraph (4) of this subsection, be in a public building;
(iv) be in the precinct that it serves unless no suitable location for a polling place can be found within that precinct, in which case the board may establish the polling place in an adjacent precinct; and
(v) whenever practicable, be selected and arranged to avoid architectural and other barriers that impede access or voting by elderly and physically disabled voters.
(3)(i) The public official responsible for the use of any public building requested by a local board for a polling place shall make available to the local board, without charge, the space that is needed in the building for the proper conduct of an election.
(ii) Light, heat, and custodial and janitorial services for the space shall be provided to the local board without charge.
(iii) 1. Subject to subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph, electioneering shall be allowed on the premises of the public building up to the electioneering boundary established under § 16-206(b) of this article.
2. Campaign signs shall be allowed on the premises of the public building, at a minimum, from:
A. 5 p.m. the day immediately preceding election day until 8 a.m. on the day immediately following election day; and
B. 5 p.m. the day before an early voting period begins under § 10-301.1 of this title until 8 a.m. the day after the early voting period ends.
(4)(i) If suitable space in a public building is not available, a local board may pay a reasonable fee for the use of space in a privately owned building.
(ii) A polling place may not be located in a privately owned building unless the owner of the building agrees to:
1. allow electioneering on the premises up to the electioneering boundary established under § 16-206(b) of this article; and
2. allow campaign signs on the premises, at a minimum, from:
A. 5 p.m. the day immediately preceding election day until 8 a.m. on the day immediately following election day; and
B. 5 p.m. the day before an early voting period begins under § 10-301.1 of this title until 8 a.m. the day after the early voting period ends.
(5) If a polling place is located in a building owned or leased by a volunteer fire company or rescue squad, the volunteer fire company or rescue squad may require the local board to pay for the use of the space that is needed in the building for the proper conduct of any election.
Local provisions
(b)(1)(i) In Baltimore City, public buildings shall be used for polling places to the greatest extent feasible.
(ii) For rental of privately owned polling places in Baltimore City, the local board shall pay an amount as determined in the ordinance of estimates, provided that the amount is uniform on a citywide basis.
(2) In Charles County, the local board may use private firehouses, private halls, and other buildings for polling places.
(3) In Montgomery County, the County Board of Education shall make available the space and custodial service as needed for the proper conduct of elections upon application by the local board.
Alcoholic beverages licenses
(c)(1) The State Board shall adopt regulations governing the use of a building or part of a building that is owned, occupied, or partially occupied by an establishment that holds an alcoholic beverages license as a polling place.
(2) The regulations adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall require a local board to prioritize the placement of polling locations in buildings that are not owned, occupied, or partially occupied by an establishment that holds an alcoholic beverages license.
Credits
Added as Art. 33, § 10-101, by Acts 1998, c. 585, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. Transferred to Election Law § 10-101 by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2009, c. 445, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; Acts 2013, c. 498, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013; Acts 2017, c. 284, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 285, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2022, c. 191, § 1, eff. July 21, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 192, § 1, eff. July 21, 2022; Acts 2023, c. 221, § 1, eff. June 1, 2023.
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
