2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - Voting and Elections

The multilingual elections legislation aims to change the language access threshold that triggers translations in a county from 5% to 2%, expanding the number of languages that are required for the translation of almost all election- related materials in jurisdictions meeting the new threshold. [...] Voting Access for Incarcerated and Returning Citizens – We continue to work with the Expand the Ballot coalition to ensure returning citizens and eligible incarcerated citizens are made aware of their right to vote and have meaningful access to voting and voting information. [...] The first aims to expand the agencies covered by our automatic voter registration program to also include the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, affirming for returning citizens that their right to vote has in fact been restored while providing the opportunity to register to vote as they leave. [...] Unfortunately, even with significant improvements made to the program and the expanded jurisdiction of the PIA Compliance Board, public information remains inaccessible to many due to excessive fees. [...] This session, we will continue to work with the Fair Elections Maryland coalition to pass legislation that would provide local jurisdictions that have existing programs the option to expand to cover other local offices.