reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-309 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 3 - Absentee Voting|Section 9-309 - Instructions

    An absentee ballot shall be accompanied by instructions, prescribed by the State Board, for marking and returning the ballot.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-310 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 3 - Absentee Voting|Section 9-310 - Envelope, Oath, and Instructions

    (a)    (1)    This subsection applies only to an absentee ballot that is sent by mail.        (2)    An absentee ballot shall be enclosed in specially printed envelopes, the form and content of which shall be prescribed by the State Board.        (3)    (i)    A local board may use either two envelopes or three envelopes.            (ii)    If two envelopes are used, the inner envelope shall be designated the “ballot/return envelope”, and, when issued, it shall fit inside the envelope designated the “outgoing envelope”.            (iii)    If three envelopes are used, the innermost envelope shall be designated the “ballot envelope”, which shall fit inside the envelope designated the “return envelope”, both of which, when issued, shall fit inside the envelope designated the “outgoing envelope”.            (iv)    The ballot/return envelope described under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph and the return envelope described under subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph provided to a voter voting by absentee ballot shall include prepaid postage.        (4)    (i)    An absentee ballot shall be accompanied by instructions for postage of the ballot/return envelope or the return envelope.            (ii)    The instructions for postage shall include:                1.    a statement that the ballot/return envelope or return envelope includes prepaid postage and may be mailed as is; and                2.    directions for how a voter may attach postage for the purpose of reducing the costs of the local board.        (5)    When voted and returned to the local board, an absentee ballot shall be enclosed in a ballot envelope or ballot/return envelope, on which has been printed an oath prescribed by the State Board.    (b)    The State Board shall reimburse each local board for 50% of the cost of prepaid postage included on ballot/return envelopes or return envelopes provided to a voter voting by absentee ballot under subsection (a)(3)(iv) of this section.    (c)    If an absentee ballot is sent by the Internet or facsimile transmission, the local board shall provide the voter with an envelope template, the oath prescribed by the State Board, and instructions for marking and returning the absentee ballot.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-311 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 3 - Absentee Voting|Section 9-311 - Additional Compensation and Expenses

    (a)    (1)    The members of a local board shall each be entitled to extra compensation, in addition to their regular compensation, for duties actually performed under this subtitle.        (2)    Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the amount of the extra compensation shall be $10 per day, or a greater amount set by the governing body of the county.        (3)    In Baltimore City, the members of the local board shall receive $200 per election for duties under this subtitle.    (b)    The governing body of a county shall provide to the local board of the county an amount that is reasonable and necessary to pay for expenses, including the employment of temporary personnel, required for performing the duties required under this subtitle.    (c)    Payments under this section shall be made by the county governing body in the same manner that other funding is provided to the local board.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-312 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 3 - Absentee Voting|Section 9-312 - Penalty for Offenses Relating to Absentee Voting

    Any person who is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this subtitle is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 2 years or both.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-401 - In General

    (a)    This subtitle applies to every election governed by this article.    (b)    The State Board shall prescribe all forms required to comply with:        (1)    this subtitle; and        (2)    any requirements of relevant federal law.    (c)    The budget of the State Board for each fiscal year shall include funding necessary to support any additional personnel costs associated with the implementation of the provisional ballot system required under this article.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-402 - Documentation by Local Boards

    Each local board shall maintain a full record of provisional ballot voting in the county, including, for each voter who votes using a provisional ballot:         (1)    the action taken with regard to the registration;        (2)    the appropriate ballot style; and        (3)    any other information specified by the State Board.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-403 - Guidelines

    (a)    The State Board shall establish guidelines for the administration of provisional ballot voting by the local boards.    (b)    The guidelines shall provide for:        (1)    the provisional ballot application process;        (2)    ballot security, including storage of returned ballots;        (3)    the canvass process;        (4)    notice of the canvass to candidates, political parties, campaign organizations, news media, and the general public;        (5)    observers of the process;        (6)    review of ballots and envelopes submitted for compliance with the law and for machine tabulation acceptability;        (7)    standards for disallowance of ballots during the canvass;        (8)    storage and retention of ballots following canvass and certification; and        (9)    the free access system required under § 11-303(f) of this article.    (c)    The State Board shall:        (1)    in consultation with the local boards, assess the guidelines before each primary election; and        (2)    revise the guidelines if indicated.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-404 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-404 - Requirements for Casting Provisional Ballots

    (a)    If an individual is eligible under subsection (b) of this section, the individual shall be issued and may cast a provisional ballot:        (1)    at a polling place on election day;        (2)    at an early voting center during early voting; or        (3)    at the local board office in the county where the individual resides after the close of registration and before the closing of the polls on election day.    (b)    An individual is eligible to cast a provisional ballot if:        (1)    the individual declares in a written affirmation submitted with the provisional ballot that the individual is a registered voter in the State and is eligible to vote in that election; and        (2)    (i)    the individual’s name does not appear on the election register;            (ii)    an election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to vote; or            (iii)    the individual does not have the necessary identification.    (c)    In addition to the individuals who cast provisional ballots under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, any individual who appears to vote during a period covered by a court order or other order extending the time for closing the polls shall cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot cast under this subsection shall be separated and held apart from other provisional ballots cast by those not affected by the order.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-405 - Completion of Provisional Ballot

    Before an individual casts a provisional ballot:         (1)    the individual shall complete and sign the provisional ballot application prescribed by the State Board; and        (2)    the election official issuing the ballot shall give the individual written information advising the individual that, and describing how, the individual will be able to ascertain whether the vote was counted and, if it was not counted, the reason it was not.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-406 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-406 - Assistance in Casting Provisional Ballot

    (a)    A voter who requires assistance in casting a provisional ballot by reason of disability, inability to write, or inability to read the ballot may be assisted by any individual other than:        (1)    a candidate who is on that ballot;        (2)    the individual’s employer or an agent of the employer; or        (3)    an officer or agent of the individual’s union.    (b)    An individual rendering assistance under this section shall execute a certification as prescribed by the State Board and included in the instructions under  § 9–407 of this subtitle.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-407 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-407 - Instructions; Envelopes

    (a)    A provisional ballot shall be accompanied by instructions, prescribed by the State Board, for marking and returning the ballot.    (b)    When voted, a provisional ballot shall be:        (1)    enclosed in an envelope designated “provisional ballot/return envelope”; or        (2)    stored in an electronic format, as specified by the State Board.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-408 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 4 - Provisional Ballots|Section 9-408 - Penalty for Violations

    Any person who is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this subtitle is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 2 years or both.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-501 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-501 - Voting by Mail

    (a)    This subtitle applies only to a special election that is not held concurrently with a regularly scheduled primary or general election.    (b)    Voting by mail may be utilized in a special election in accordance with this subtitle.    (c)    A special election to fill a vacancy in the Office of Representative in Congress shall be conducted by mail if the Governor’s proclamation issued under § 8–710 of this article directs that the election be conducted by mail.    (d)    (1)    In this subsection, “local special election” means a special election to:            (i)    fill a vacancy in the offices of county council member, chief executive officer, or county executive of a charter county if the charter of that county provides for special elections;            (ii)    fill a vacancy in the board of county commissioners of a code home rule county if a local law enacted by that county provides for special elections;            (iii)    fill a vacancy in the board of county commissioners of a commission county if a law provides for special elections;            (iv)    fill a vacancy in a local board of education if State law provides for special elections;            (v)    elect members of a charter board or submit a proposed charter to the voters for adoption or rejection in accordance with Article XI–A, § 1A of the Maryland Constitution; or            (vi)    submit a local law enacted by a code home rule county to the voters for adoption or rejection in accordance with § 9–313 of the Local Government Article.        (2)    A local special election shall be conducted by mail if the resolution of the county council or board of county commissioners establishing the date of the special election directs that the election be conducted by mail.    (e)    Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle:        (1)    provisions of this article relating to absentee voting apply to voting by mail; and        (2)    all pertinent State or local laws relating to the conduct of a special election apply to a special election conducted under this subtitle.    (f)    Provisions of this article relating to the conduct of elections apply to a special election conducted under this subtitle, unless a law specifically relevant to a special election applies.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-502 - Vote-by-Mail Ballot

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a local board shall mail by nonforwardable mail a vote–by–mail ballot to each registered voter who is eligible to vote in a special election.        (2)    A local board is not required to mail a vote–by–mail ballot to a voter if the voter has requested that the ballot be sent by other means.    (b)    A voter is not required to submit an application to receive a vote–by–mail ballot.    (c)    In Montgomery County:        (1)    each vote–by–mail ballot shall be accompanied by a postage–paid envelope in which a voter may return the voted ballot to the local board; and        (2)    the local board shall pay the cost of postage–paid envelopes provided under this subsection.    (d)    A local board shall send a vote–by–mail ballot to each eligible voter at least 14 days before the day of a special election.    (e)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a vote–by–mail ballot shall be mailed to the address that is on file in the statewide voter registration list for each eligible voter.        (2)    A registered voter may request to receive a vote–by–mail ballot at an address other than the address that is on file in the statewide voter registration list by:            (i)    submitting an absentee ballot application in accordance with § 9–305(a) of this title not later than the Tuesday preceding the day of a special election, if the voter is temporarily absent from the address that is on file in the statewide voter registration list; or            (ii)    notifying a local board of a change of address not later than the Tuesday preceding the day of a special election, if the voter’s residence has changed from the address that is on file in the statewide voter registration list to another location within the State.    (f)    A local board shall issue a replacement vote–by–mail ballot to a voter if the election director of the local board has reasonable grounds to believe that the vote–by–mail ballot previously issued to the voter has been lost, destroyed, spoiled, or not received.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-503 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-503 - Voting Centers

    (a)    Each local board shall establish at least one voting center for the use of any eligible voter who chooses to cast a ballot in person in a special election in accordance with this section.    (b)    (1)    A voting center shall be located at a local board office or another location within the constituency where the special election is being held.        (2)    In Montgomery County:            (i)    in a special election held in a single county council district, at least one voting center shall be established in the county council district where the special election is being held; and            (ii)    in a countywide special election, at least one voting center shall be established in each county council district.    (c)    A voting center established under this section shall:        (1)    provide access to a voting system that is accessible to voters with disabilities in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Help America Vote Act;        (2)    provide for provisional voting in accordance with Subtitle 4 of this title;        (3)    satisfy the requirements of § 10–101 of this article; and        (4)    (i)    unless otherwise specified in the proclamation issued by the Governor that directs that the special election be conducted by mail, and except as provided in item (ii) of this item, be open for voting each day beginning 6 days before the day of a special election through the day of a special election during the hours between:                1.    10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and                2.    12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday; and            (ii)    in Montgomery County, be open for voting during the days and for the hours that the county council directs in the resolution under § 9–501(d)(2) of this subtitle.    (d)    If necessary to expedite the conduct of a special election and subject to the approval of the State Board, a local board may establish a voting center under this section during a period when a change in polling places is prohibited under § 2–303 of this article.    (e)    The process for applying in person for an absentee ballot at the office of a local board under § 9–305 of this title does not apply to a special election conducted by mail.    (f)    Except as otherwise provided in this section, any provision of this article that applies to voting at a polling place on election day also applies to voting at a voting center established under this section.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-504 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-504 - Return of Vote-by-Mail Ballot

    (a)    A voter may return a vote–by–mail ballot to a local board:        (1)    by mail;        (2)    in person during regular office hours; or        (3)    through a duly authorized agent in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.    (b)    (1)    A voter may designate a duly authorized agent in accordance with § 9–307 of this title to return a vote–by–mail ballot to a local board during regular office hours.        (2)    Notwithstanding § 9–307(b)(4)(i) of this title, an agent is required only to:            (i)    witness the voter mark the ballot and place it in an envelope; and            (ii)    return the ballot to a local board.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-505 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-505 - Timeliness

    (a)    A vote–by–mail ballot is considered timely and may be counted if the ballot:        (1)    is returned in person to the office of a local board by the voter or the voter’s duly authorized agent no later than 8 p.m. on the day of a special election; or        (2)    (i)    is received by mail by a local board no later than 10 a.m. on the second Friday after a special election; and            (ii)    was mailed on or before election day, as verified:                1.    by a postmark; or                2.    if the return envelope does not contain a postmark or the postmark is illegible, by the voter’s affidavit that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.    (b)    A vote–by–mail ballot that does not meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section is not timely and may not be counted.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-506 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-506 - Canvass of Votes

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a local board may commence the canvass of vote–by–mail ballots at 2 p.m. on the day of a special election.    (b)    The State Board may adopt regulations authorizing a local board to commence the canvass of vote–by–mail ballots before the time specified in subsection (a) of this section.    (c)    The State Board shall adopt regulations that provide for:        (1)    public observation of the canvass of vote–by–mail ballots in accordance with § 11–301(a–1) of this article; and        (2)    procedures for maintaining the secrecy of the election results until after 12 a.m. on the day after a special election.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  9-507 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 9 - Voting|Subtitle 5 - Voting by Mail in Special Elections|Section 9-507 - Regulations

    The State Board may adopt regulations as necessary to implement this subtitle.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  10-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 10 - Polling Places|Subtitle 1 - Polling Place Sites|Section 10-102 - Alternative Polling Places -- Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities

    (a)    If the polling place assigned to an elderly or disabled voter is not structurally barrier free, the voter may request a reassignment by the local board.    (b)    (1)    To qualify for a reassignment by the local board, the voter shall submit a request in writing to the local board not later than the close of registration for the election.        (2)    The request may be made on a form prescribed by the State Board.    (c)    On receipt of a request from an elderly or disabled voter under subsection (b) of this section, the local board shall either:        (1)    assign the voter to an election district, ward, or precinct in the voter’s county that contains a structurally barrier free polling place; or        (2)    issue the voter an absentee ballot in accordance with the procedures established under Title 9, Subtitle 3 of this article.    (d)    Any ballot issued to a voter under subsection (c)(2) of this section shall be identical to the ballot used in the polling place originally assigned to the voter.
MD. Election Law Code Ann. §  10-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Election Law|Title 10 - Polling Places|Subtitle 2 - Election Judges|Section 10-201 - In General

    (a)    (1)    (i)    Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, each local board shall provide at least four election judges to be the staff for each polling place.            (ii)    In a precinct with fewer than 200 registered voters, the local board may provide two election judges for that precinct’s polling place.        (2)    An election judge shall be appointed in accordance with the requirements of § 10-203 of this subtitle.    (b)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each polling place shall have an equal number of election judges from:            (i)    the majority party; and            (ii)    the principal minority party.        (2)    (i)    If the total number of election judges for a precinct is six or more:                1.    a local board may provide one or more election judges who are not registered with either the majority party or principal minority political party; and                2.    a local board may provide one or more election judges who are minors.            (ii)    The number of election judges provided under this paragraph may not exceed the lesser of:                1.    the number of election judges who belong to the majority party; or                2.    the number of election judges who belong to the principal minority party.