Election Law - Curbside Voting - Pilot Program

HB 317 establishes a three-county pilot program to test curbside voting in Maryland, allowing voters with mobility challenges to cast ballots without entering polling places. The bill requires designated locations in one small, one medium, and one large-voter county, prioritizing accessibility for historically disenfranchised communities and proximity to public transit. Local election boards must equip these sites to maintain ballot secrecy while enabling voters to complete ballots independently or with assistance upon request. The program will operate during early voting and election day hours at locations like community centers, with specific rules to prevent electioneering near voting zones. This pilot aims to assess curbside voting's viability before potential statewide implementation.