1. A. After completing canvassing procedures, a local board shall retain all voted ballots in a sealed ballot box labeled with a batch label until they are authorized to be opened and removed for an audit, recount, judicial challenge, storage, or disposal.

2. B. Document Retention. A local board shall retain for 22 months after an election:

   1. (1) Absentee ballot applications;
   2. (2) Voted absentee ballots;
   3. (3) Return envelopes; and
   4. (4) Certificates of assistance.

3. C. Disposal of Unvoted Ballots.

   1. (1) A local board may dispose of any unvoted absentee ballots at least 30 days after State certification of an election or the conclusion of a recount, whichever is later.
   2. (2) A local board is not required to shred unvoted absentee ballots.

Authority: Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 2-202(b), 9-303, and 11-309, Annotated Code of Maryland;
42 U.S.C. §§1973ff-1(h) and 1974

Effective date: May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 768)

Regulation .01 amended effective April 27, 2026 (53:8 Md. R. 356)