§ 15.5-103

Maryland § 15.5-103

• Jurisdiction: Maryland
• Article gel: Election Law

Text

(a) Each local board that is required to participate in the Program shall, with oversight from the State Board, provide to voters the services described in this section.

(b) (1) At each early voting center and election day polling place, a voter who has a need for language assistance in a designated language shall have the option to communicate with the election judges through a translator.

(2) The State shall provide to the local boards licensed translation software services to implement the Program and the county shall pay for all other expenses associated with the Program, including necessary hardware and each use of the translation software services.

(c) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, the local board shall post State Board approved signage in each early voting center and election day polling place in each designated language notifying voters that language assistance and interpretation services are available.

(d) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, the local board shall provide online voting materials in each designated language.

(e) A local board may provide solely oral instructions or other assistance if the language does not have a written form, such as American Sign Language.

(f) The local board shall make reasonable efforts to recruit bilingual election judges to provide assistance to voters in designated languages.

(g) The local board, with State Board approval, may provide language assistance services that are in addition to the language assistance services required in this section.