Election Law - Curbside Voting - Pilot Program

HB 641 establishes a three-county pilot program to test curbside voting in Maryland, directly affecting voters with mobility challenges and local election officials implementing the program. The bill requires the State Board to select one county each with small, medium, and large voter populations to test curbside voting at designated locations outside early voting centers or polling places. Key provisions mandate that locations must prioritize accessibility for historically disenfranchised communities, proximity to voters, and public transportation access, while ensuring ballot secrecy and allowing voters to complete ballots without assistance unless requested. The pilot program requires voting systems to accommodate curbside voting and specifies that election officials must set boundaries to prevent campaigning near curbside locations. This pilot will run during early voting and election days at designated sites, with implementation starting at least six months before each statewide primary election.