Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB443: Local Boards of Elections - Board Counsel - Qualifications
Status: Signed into law, April 28, 2026
Altering the qualifications for counsel to local boards of elections to require that counsel be a registered voter of the State instead of the applicable county.
What the bill says
An act concerning Local Boards of Elections - Board Counsel - Qualifications FOR the purpose of altering the qualifications for counsel to local boards of elections; and generally relating to local boards of elections. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Election Law Section 2-201(a)(1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Election Law Section 2-205(a) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement).
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Local Boards of Elections - Board Counsel - Qualifications FOR the purpose of altering the qualifications for counsel to local boards of elections; and generally relating to local boards of elections. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Election Law Section 2-201(a)(1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Election Law Section 2-205(a) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Election Law 2-201. (a) (1) There is a county board of elections in each county of the State. 2-205. (a) Each local board may appoint or retain as counsel an individual who and (2) admitted to practice law in the State. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is enacted. Approved by the Governor, April 28, 2026.