Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration
HB 115 automatically restores voting rights for Maryland residents released from state prisons who were registered to vote before incarceration. The Department of Public Safety must send the State Board of Elections a weekly list of released individuals' names and new addresses, prompting the Board to reactivate their voter registration at their updated address. The bill requires the Board to send notification cards confirming voting eligibility and the right to update address or decline registration, while prohibiting public disclosure of how someone was restored through this process. This applies to all released individuals with prior registration who now reside in Maryland, effective January 2027.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jul 23, 2025
Signed May 12, 2026
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4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was advanced from a pre-filed proposal to an adopted version with amendments that significantly expand its scope and timeline. The primary changes require the State Board of Elections and the Department of Public Safety to jointly develop a new electronic transmission process by January 1, 2028, replacing the previous weekly-only reporting requirement with a flexible weekly or monthly schedule. Additionally, the bill now explicitly prohibits the disclosure of specific sensitive data (like the last four digits of SSNs or driver's license numbers) when transmitting voter lists, and clarifies that the voter registration agency used must not be disclosed under the Public Information Act.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a unilateral reporting requirement by the Department of Corrections to a joint responsibility between the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Elections to create a new electronic transmission process. The frequency of data transmission was also modified to allow for either weekly or monthly reporting.
TIMELINE
Added a new requirement for the State Board and Department of Corrections to jointly develop and implement new electronic procedures by January 1, 2028.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the data transmission frequency from strictly 'weekly' to 'weekly or monthly' to provide more flexibility in the process.
Added specific restrictions prohibiting the disclosure of the last four digits of Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, or state ID numbers when transmitting voter lists.
Clarified that the specific voter registration agency through which a formerly incarcerated person registered must not be disclosed to the public.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026
How they voted
32–13
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 19, 2026
D
Democratic36
88% Yea
R
Republican13
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 428
executive
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Apr 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Committee
Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (32-13-4)
senate
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion Special Order until 03/18 (Delegate Grammer) Adopted
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Mar 5, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (101-33-8)
house of delegates
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Jul 23, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
lower
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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