Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Signature Requirements and Verification
Sponsor: Robert B. Long (District 6)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: ElectionsStatus: Hearing 1/31 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 9, 2023)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Prohibiting a local board of elections from removing an absentee ballot from a return envelope or ballot/return envelope or counting the ballot unless the return envelope or ballot/return envelope is signed by the voter and, except under certain circumstances, a witness, and the local board verifies the voter's signature; and providing that the witness signature requirement does not apply to active duty uniformed services members serving overseas or their spouses or dependents who live overseas.
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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.
Testimony (36)
MGA witness listFAV 28FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 7Unfavorable
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Schulze, Dana | USAF Veteran | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Hodges, Dee | self | Oral |
| FAV | Benhoff, Jean | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Cirone, Christine | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Deise, Virginia | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Deise, Virginia | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Deise, Virginia | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Deise, Virginia | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Delegate Long, R., Delegate Long, R.legislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Diefenbach, Klaus | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Diefenbach, Linda | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | D’Orazio , Daniela | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Ennis, Ella | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Fallon, Patricia | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Harper, Katja | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Helms, Jessica | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Hopp, Deborah | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Katz, Janet | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Lang, Alan | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Love, William | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | McShane, Jolie | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Morsberger, David | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Pedersen, Stacy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Randisi, James | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Sirkel, Robin | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Swim, Cindy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Vernon, Michael | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | mcavoy, vince | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Drayton, Morganlobbyist | Common Cause MD | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Ansah, Samuela | Disability Rights Maryland | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Maneki, Sharon | National Federation of the Blind of Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kemerer, Hannibal | Office of Attorney General | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Wylie, Devin | People On the Go Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Apple, Chris | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Kolp, Ande | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Fink, Nelda | Individual | Written (PDF) |
