Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions
SB 670 clarifies and expands the authority of local election board employees at polling places in Maryland. It requires police officers on duty at polling places to obey orders from these employees (not just election judges) and grants employees the power to keep the peace, order arrests for disruptive behavior, and protect challengers or watchers. The bill also allows employees to deny entry to challengers or watchers who arrive less than 30 minutes before polls open or who might delay polling place openings. These changes directly affect local election employees, police officers, and individuals acting as challengers or watchers during elections. The law amends specific sections of Maryland’s election code to establish these procedures, effective June 1, 2026.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 6, 2026
Signed May 12, 2026
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What changed between versions
Third - Election Law - Authority at Polling Places - Revisions
→
Enrolled - Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions
·
4 edits
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May 12, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a Senate Bill to an Enrolled Bill, finalizing its text for the Governor's signature. Substantively, the bill's scope was expanded to include Early Voting Centers and Counting Centers, and the authority granted to local election officials was clarified to include the Deputy State Administrator. The text was also cleaned up to remove redundant phrasing and correct grammatical errors found in the earlier draft.
Scope change
The bill's applicability was broadened to cover Early Voting Centers and Counting Centers in addition to polling places.
SCOPE
Expanded the bill's authority to include Early Voting Centers and Counting Centers, not just traditional polling places.
ENFORCEMENT
Added the Deputy State Administrator to the list of officials whose orders police officers must obey at polling places.
TECHNICAL
Corrected grammatical errors and redundant phrasing throughout the text to improve clarity.
Updated the bill's title and header to reflect its status as an Enrolled Bill ready for the Governor's approval.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 22, 2026
How they voted
43–1
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 22, 2026
D
Democratic36
88% Yea
R
Republican13
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
12
Committee
7
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 468
executive
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Mar 22, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-1-5)
senate
Mar 21, 2026
Committee
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Laid Over (Senator Ready) Adopted
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Cheryl Kagan
DDemocratic
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