§ 3-204.2

Maryland § 3-204.2

• Jurisdiction: Maryland
• Article gel: Election Law
• Title: 3

Text

(a) The State Board and the Department of Natural Resources shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who apply for the issuance or renewal of a license, permit, or certificate online to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system.

(b) The State Board and the Maryland Department of Labor shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who use the Maryland Workforce Exchange website to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system.

(c) The State Board and the Department of Veterans and Military Families shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who use the Department of Veterans and Military Families website or who are contacted by the Department’s outreach and advocacy program to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system.

(d) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.

(ii) “Applicable transaction” means an online application for a State or federally funded public assistance program or an online application for a recertification, renewal, or change of name or address relating to a State or federally funded public assistance program.

(iii) “Department” means the Department of Human Services.

(iv) “Electronic portal” means the Department’s online system, known as MyDHR, through which an individual may complete an applicable transaction.

(2) Pending the implementation of an automatic voter registration system under § 3–203 of this subtitle, the State Board and the Department shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who use the Department’s electronic portal to complete an applicable transaction to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system.

(e) The State Board and the State Comptroller shall jointly develop and implement procedures for individuals who file a Maryland resident individual income tax return electronically to be offered the opportunity to register to vote through a link to the online voter registration system.

(f) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.

(ii) “Association” means the Maryland Independent College and University Association.

(iii) “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

(2) (i) Each public institution of higher education and each private nonprofit institution of higher education that receives operating or capital funding from the State shall provide a link to the online voter registration system on the home page of the online portal used by students to register for course work.

(ii) The link to the online voter registration system shall be prominently placed on the home page in a location where it may be easily viewed by students registering for course work.

(iii) If there are fewer than 15 clicks on the link in any calendar year, the institution of higher education shall relocate the link to a different, more conspicuous location for the immediately following calendar year and take any other appropriate steps to encourage students to use the link.

(3) (i) On or before January 1 each year, each public institution of higher education shall submit a report to the Commission that includes:

1. the number of individuals who clicked on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year;

2. if there were fewer than 15 clicks on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year a description of any appropriate steps the institution is taking to encourage students to use the link; and

3. any efforts the public institution of higher education plans to make to improve access to voter registration for students at the institution.

(ii) On or before January 15 each year, the Commission shall compile and summarize the information reported by public institutions of higher education under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in a single report and submit the report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.

(4) (i) On or before January 1 each year, each private nonprofit institution of higher education that receives operating or capital funding from the State and is a member of the Association shall submit a report to the Association that includes:

1. the number of individuals who clicked on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year;

2. if there were fewer than 15 clicks on the link required under paragraph (2) of this subsection in the immediately preceding calendar year, a description of any appropriate steps the institution is taking to encourage students to use the link; and

3. any efforts the private nonprofit institution of higher education plans to make to improve access to voter registration for students at the institution.

(ii) On or before January 15 each year, the Association shall compile and summarize the information reported by its members under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in a single report and submit the report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.