Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Signature Requirements and Verification
Sponsor: Johnny Mautz (District 37)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: ElectionsStatus: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)
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 verify 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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Testimony (0)
MGA witness listFAV 8FavorableUNF 5Unfavorable
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Mautz, Johnny | Senator | Oral |
| FAV | Benhoff, Jean | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Lang, Alan | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Mauer, William | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Morsberger, David | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Senator Mautz, Senator Mautzlegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Sullivan, Katherine | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Justice, Gillian | Disability Rights Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Davis, Emily | Fair Elections Center | Position only |
| UNF | Maneki, Sharon | National Federation of the Blind of Maryland | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kaplowitz, Richard KAP | Year | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kolp, Ande | Individual | Written (PDF) |