1. A. In General. A formal request for an absentee ballot may be made to a local board only:

   1. (1) On the paper or the online version of the absentee ballot application prescribed by the State Board; or
   2. (2) On a form provided under federal law.

2. B. Dissemination of Forms.

   1. (1) Local boards and others may reproduce and distribute the form prescribed by the State Board, but only if they do so without altering that form.

   2. (2) Website Posting.

      1. (a) The State Board shall post on its website the paper version of the absentee ballot application and provide a link to the online absentee ballot application.
      2. (b) A local board, on its website, shall post the paper version of the absentee ballot application and link to the online version of the absentee ballot application on the State Board's website.
      3. (c) The absentee ballot application shall be posted in a way that precludes altering its content.

   3. (3) Absentee Ballot Application Transmission.

      1. (a) If a voter requests an absentee ballot application, the local board shall send, by the voter's preferred method of transmission, the appropriate form to the voter.
      2. (b) If the voter does not specify how the voter wishes to receive the absentee ballot application, the local board shall mail and transmit by any other available means the appropriate form to the voter.

3. C. Online Absentee Ballot Application—Voter Authentication.

   1. (1) The online absentee ballot application shall authenticate each voter.

   2. (2) Except as provided in §C(3) of this regulation, each voter shall enter:

      1. (a) The voter’s driver’s license or MVA identification card number;
      2. (b) The date the voter’s driver’s license or identification card was issued; and
      3. (c) The last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number.
   3. (3) If a voter is an absent uniformed services voter or an overseas voter who does not have a Maryland driver’s license or MVA identification card number, the voter shall enter the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number.

   4. (4) The online absentee ballot application shall immediately verify the information required in §C(2) of this regulation with information on file with MVA.

      1. (a) If the MVA verifies the information, the voter may submit the online absentee ballot application.
      2. (b) If the MVA cannot verify the information, the voter shall submit the paper version of the absentee ballot application.

4. D. Electronic Transmissions.

   1. (1) A local board may issue and receive applications by electronic transmission.
   2. (2) If an application is received by email, the application must be signed by the voter.
5. E. Deadline for Receipt of Application. An application under this regulation must be received by the local board by the deadline in Regulation .01D of this chapter.
6. F. Incomplete Information. If an application is timely, but any of the required information is missing, the election director shall attempt to contact the voter to correct the omission.

Authority: Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 3-202.1, 9-303, 9-305, 9-306, 11-301, and 11-302;
Public Safety Article, §14-107(d); Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective February 1, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 637); adopted permanently effective April 17, 2000 (27:7 Md. R. 709)

Regulation .01 amended effective September 16, 2013 (40:18 Md. R. 1480)

Regulation .01A amended effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1655)

Regulation .01C—F adopted effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768)

Regulation .01D amended effective January 13, 2022 (49:1 Md. R. 16)

Regulation .01F amended effective June 25, 2012 (39:12 Md. R. 746)

Regulation .02 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768); September 16, 2013 (40:18 Md. R. 1480)

Regulation .02A, B amended effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1655)

Regulation .03 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768); December 13, 2021 (48:25 Md. R. 1081)

Regulation .03A, B amended effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1655)

Regulation .03B 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 effective August 19, 2013 (40:16 Md. R. 1346); April 18, 2022 (49:8 Md. R. 501)

Regulation .03E amended effective September 16, 2013 (40:18 Md. R. 1480)

Regulation .04 amended effective September 16, 2013 (40:18 Md. R. 1480)

Regulation .04B, C amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768)

Regulation .05 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768)

Regulation .05A amended as an emergency provision effective October 13, 2020 (47:23 Md. R. 976); emergency provision expired December 31, 2020

Regulation .05A amended effective April 18, 2022 (49:8 Md. R. 501)

Regulation .05B amended effective December 13, 2021 (48:25 Md. R. 1081)

Regulation .06 amended as an emergency provision effective July 3, 2002 (29:18 Md. R. 1440); amended permanently effective October 14, 2002 (29:20 Md. R. 1595)

Regulation .06 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768)

Regulation .06B amended effective August 19, 2013 (40:16 Md. R. 1346)

Regulation .07 adopted effective November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1655)

Regulation .07 amended effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768)

Regulation .07A 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)