Election Law – Chief Election Judges – Party Affiliation
SB 308 would require Maryland election directors to appoint chief election judges at each polling place from the majority political party and the principal minority party, whenever feasible. If election directors cannot secure appointments from both parties at least 45 days before early voting begins, they must appoint one chief judge from one of those parties and one unaffiliated with either party. This rule applies to all polling places statewide and affects how local election officials staff voting locations. The changes would take effect on October 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025
Signed May 6, 2025
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4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends election law to clarify how election judges are appointed and structured at polling places. It adds co-sponsors to the legislation and adjusts the formatting of the bill header. The substantive changes focus on election judge staffing requirements, chief judge designation procedures, and effective dates.
Scope change
The bill applies to election judges and polling place staffing across all precincts, with specific provisions for precincts with fewer than 200 registered voters.
TECHNICAL
Added co-sponsors (Senators Brooks and Kagan) to the bill's authorship line.
REQUIREMENT
Reorganized the structure of election judge staffing requirements, separating the general rule for four judges per polling place from the exception for precincts with fewer than 200 registered voters (which may have only two judges).
Clarified the appointment process for chief judges when an election director cannot designate them 45 days before early voting begins, specifying that one chief judge must come from the majority or principal minority party and another must be unaffiliated.
TIMELINE
Added a formal approval signature block at the end of the bill for the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2025
How they voted
41–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 46
Feb 28, 2025
D
Democratic33
84% Yea
R
Republican13
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 276
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Ways and Means
lower
Mar 25, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-2)
house of delegates
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred Ways and Means
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (41-0-5)
senate
Jan 13, 2025
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ben Brooks
DDemocratic
P
Bryan Simonaire
RRepublican
P
Cheryl Kagan
DDemocratic
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