1. A. State Board as Designating Entity. The State Board may:

   1. (1) Designate an individual as an accredited challenger or watcher if the individual submits a written request that includes polling places in more than one county; and
   2. (2) Require the individual to attend a training session, read any State Board issued information, or both.

2. B. Local Board as Designating Entity. A local board may:

   1. (1) Designate an individual as an accredited challenger or watcher if the individual submits a written request that includes polling places in its jurisdiction; and
   2. (2) Require the individual to attend a training session, read any State Board issued information, or both.

3. C. Other Designating Entities. If a designating entity other than the State Board or a local board intends to distribute instructions to the individual or individuals it designates, the designating entity:

   1. (1) May not provide information that conflicts with the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, Title 33 of COMAR, and other State Board issued information; and
   2. (2) May submit a written draft of the instructions to the State Board for review.

4. D. Certificate.

   1. (1) A designating entity shall provide each challenger or watcher it designates with a signed certificate, in the form prescribed by the State Board.

   2. (2) The certificate shall be signed by:

      1. (a) If a candidate is the designating entity, the candidate;
      2. (b) If a political party is the designating entity, an officer, executive director of the entity, or other person authorized to sign on behalf of the entity; or
      3. (c) If a group of voters is the designating entity, the chairman or treasurer of the political committee.

   3. (3) The signature of the designating entity shall be:

      1. (a) An original signature; or
      2. (b) A copy of an original signature.

   4. (4) A designating entity shall provide the local board with:

      1. (a) Copies of completed certificates; or
      2. (b) A list of individuals designated as challengers and watchers.

Authority: Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 10-303, and 10-311, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.04 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 636); adopted permanently effective July 10, 2000 (27:13 Md. R. 1213)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 33.07.06, Regulation .04 repealed, and new Regulation .04 adopted effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1655)

Regulation .02 amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)

Regulation .03A amended as an emergency provision effective June 2, 2006 (33:13 Md. R. 1062); amended permanently effective August 14, 2006 (33:16 Md. R. 1366)

Regulation .03B amended as an emergency provision effective January 2, 2004 (30:24 Md. R. 1737); amended permanently effective March 1, 2004 (31:4 Md. R. 319); amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 623)

Regulation .04 repealed as an emergency provision effective June 2, 2006 (33:13 Md. R. 1062); repealed permanently effective August 14, 2006 (33:16 Md. R. 1366)

Chapter, Challenging Voters, recodified from COMAR 33.07.07 to 33.07.08 effective March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 384)

Regulations .01—.04 under new chapter, Challengers or Watchers adopted effective March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 384)

Regulation .01C amended effective July 23, 2012 (39:14 Md. R. 839)

Regulation .01D amended effective April 15, 2024 (51:7 Md. R. 334)

Regulation .02C amended effective July 23, 2012 (39:14 Md. R. 839)