1. (a)

   1. (1) The following persons have the right to designate a registered voter as an accredited challenger or a watcher at each polling place or early voting center:

      1. (i) the State Board for any location in the State;
      2. (ii) a local board for any location in the county of the local board;
      3. (iii) a candidate for any location where the candidate is included on the ballot;
      4. (iv) a political party;
      5. (v) a political committee; and
      6. (vi) a person required to file reports under § 13-306 or § 13-307 of this article.
   2. (2) A person who appoints an accredited challenger or watcher may remove the challenger or watcher at any time.

2. (b) Except as provided in § 10-303(d)(2) of this subtitle and subsection (d) of this section, an accredited challenger or watcher has the right to:

   1. (1) enter the polling place or early voting center one-half hour before the polls open;
   2. (2) enter or be present at the polling place or early voting center at any time when the polls are open;
   3. (3) remain in the polling place or early voting center until the completion of all tasks associated with the close of the polls under § 10-314 of this subtitle and the election judges leave the polling place or early voting center;
   4. (4) maintain a list of registered voters who have voted, or individuals who have cast provisional ballots, and take the list outside of the polling place or early voting center; and
   5. (5) enter and leave a polling place or early voting center for the purpose of taking outside of the polling place or early voting center information that identifies registered voters who have cast ballots or individuals who have cast provisional ballots.

3. (c)

   1. (1)

      1. (i) A certificate signed by a designating person shall be sufficient evidence of the right of an accredited challenger or watcher to be present in the voting room.
      2. (ii) The State Board shall prescribe a form that shall be supplied to the accredited challenger or watcher by the designating person.
      3. (iii) A designating person shall submit a copy of the certificate of an accredited challenger or watcher to the appropriate local board before the accredited challenger or watcher may enter the voting room.
   2. (2) A challenger or watcher shall be positioned near the election judges and inside the voting room so that the challenger or watcher may see and hear each person as the person offers to vote.

4. (d)

   1. (1) A challenger or watcher may not attempt to:

      1. (i) ascertain how a voter voted or intends to vote;
      2. (ii) converse in the polling place or early voting center with any voter;
      3. (iii) assist any voter in voting; or
      4. (iv) physically handle an original election document or voting equipment.
   2. (2) An election judge or a local election director may eject a challenger or watcher who violates the prohibitions under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

5. (e)

   1. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, an election judge shall allow an individual other than an accredited challenger or watcher who desires to challenge the right to vote of any other individual to enter the polling place or early voting center for that purpose.
   2. (2) A majority of the election judges or a local election director may limit the number of nonaccredited challengers and watchers allowed in the polling place or early voting center at any one time for the purpose of challenging the right of an individual to vote.
   3. (3) A nonaccredited challenger or watcher shall leave the polling place or early voting center as soon as a majority of the election judges or a local election director decides the right to vote of the individual challenged by the challenger or watcher.
   4. (4) In addition to restrictions provided under this subsection, all restrictions on the actions of an accredited challenger or watcher provided under this subtitle apply to a nonaccredited challenger or watcher.

Added as Art. 33, § 10-311, by Acts 1998, c. 585, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. Transferred to Election Law § 10-311 by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, c. 379, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2003; Acts 2026, c. 467, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026; Acts 2026, c. 468, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.

Formerly Art. 33, § 10-311.