1. (a) A local board shall provide notice of each question to be submitted statewide and each question to be submitted to the voters of the county, by:

   1. (1) specimen ballot mailed at least 1 week before any early voting period before the general election; or
   2. (2) publication or dissemination by mass communication during the 3 weeks immediately preceding the general election at which a question will appear on the ballot.

2. (b)

   1. (1) For any question submitted under Article XIV or Article XVI of the Maryland Constitution, the notice required by subsection (a) of this section shall contain the information specified in § 7-103(b) of this title and a brief statement, prepared in clear and concise language, devoid of technical and legal terms to the extent practicable, summarizing the question.

   2. (2) The statement required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be:

      1. (i) prepared by the Department of Legislative Services;
      2. (ii) approved by the Attorney General; and
      3. (iii) submitted to the State Board by the first Monday in August.

   3. (3) The statement required under paragraph (1) of this subsection is sufficient if it is:

      1. (i) contained in an enactment by the General Assembly, and the enactment clearly specifies that the statement is to be used on the ballot; or
      2. (ii) consistent with some other process mandated by the Maryland Constitution.
3. (c) The State Board shall adopt regulations governing notice of questions to appear on the ballot, including the use and content of specimen ballots and the publication or dissemination of notice by mass communication.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The complete text of a question shall be posted or available for public inspection in the office of the State Board and each applicable local board for 65 days prior to the general election.
   2. (2) Copies of the complete text of all statewide questions shall be furnished by the State Board to the local boards in quantities as determined by the State Board, including quantities sufficient to provide one copy of each for posting in each polling place and in each local board office.
   3. (3) An individual may receive without charge a copy of the complete text of all constitutional amendments and questions from a local board, either in person, by mail, or electronically.

5. (e) The State Board and each applicable local board shall post in a manner widely accessible to the public for at least 90 days before the general election:

   1. (1) the complete text of:

      1. (i) for a question relating to the creation or adoption of a new Constitution, the proposed Constitution;
      2. (ii) for an amendment under Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution, the proposed amendment to the Maryland Constitution;
      3. (iii) for an enactment of the General Assembly referred in accordance with Article XVI of the Maryland Constitution, the enactment;

      4. (iv) for a proposed county charter or amendment to a county charter under Article XI-A of the Maryland Constitution:

         1. 1. the proposed charter; or
         2. 2. the proposed amendment to a county charter;
      5. (v) for an enactment of the General Assembly referring a question to the voters, the enactment; and
      6. (vi) for a charter county enactment in accordance with § 9-205 of the Local Government Article or a code county enactment in accordance with §§ 9-310 through 9-313 of the Local Government Article, the proposed enactment; and
   2. (2) for each question posted under item (1)(ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of this subsection, a link to the General Assembly or county webpage for the applicable legislation.

Added as Art. 33, § 7-106, by Acts 1998, c. 585, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 1999, c. 34, § 1, eff. April 13, 1999. Renumbered as Art. 33, § 7-105, by Acts 2001, c. 49, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 49, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Transferred to Election Law § 7-105 by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 291, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2013, c. 567, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013; Acts 2021, c. 117, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; Acts 2026, c. 439, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.

Formerly Art. 33, § 7-105.