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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland establishes absentee ballot rules and federal preemption guidelines for 2026 and 2028 elections
Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 440Sponsor: Cheryl Kagan
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What This Bill Does
Maryland enacted an emergency law defining timeliness requirements for absentee ballots, establishing separate counting rules for federal and state contests if preempted by federal judicial action, and mandating the use of the term "print-at-home ballots" for internet-delivered ballots during the 2026 and 2028 elections.
Voters must return mail-in ballots by election day or within specific postmark windows to ensure their votes are counted, while election officials must follow split tabulation procedures if federal court rulings conflict with state receipt deadlines.
- Wes Moore serves as the Governor of Maryland and signs legislation passed by the General Assembly. context
- The Maryland General Assembly enacts state laws governing voter registration, absentee balloting, and election administration. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State Board of Elections
The Board must adopt new regulations, establish uniform tabulation policies if triggered by federal actions, and update terminology across all public communications.
local boards of elections
Local boards must process and canvass absentee and print-at-home ballots according to new receipt deadlines and split federal-state tabulation rules.
Maryland voters using absentee ballots
Voters must adhere to updated deadlines and notice recommendations, such as mailing ballots at least one week prior to election day or using drop boxes.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What deadline applies to mailed absentee ballots?
What term must be used for internet-delivered absentee ballots?
How long will this emergency law remain in effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 440
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (96-36)
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorSecond Reading Passed
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Show 10 earlier actions
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommitteeRereferred to Government, Labor, and Elections
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Rules and Executive Nominations
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (35-10)
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 143222/1 Adopted
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFloorMotion Laid Over (Senator Jennings) Adopted
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 143222/1
- Apr 10, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Feb 10, 2026SenateHearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Standardized Terminology for Internet Ballots
The law introduces a formal statutory requirement to label internet-delivered ballots as "print-at-home ballots" across all public communications.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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