PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 2

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all of the members elected
to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it
is enacted.

Approved January 19, 1996.

CHAPTER 2
(House Bill 128)

AN ACT concerning

Election Law - Application for Absentee Ballot

FOR the purpose of repealing the requirement that an application for an absentee ballot
contain a certain affidavit and be under penalty of perjury; and making this Act an
emergency measure; and generally relating to the repeal of provisions relating to an
affidavit accompanying an application for an absentee ballot.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 33 - Election Code
Section 27-4 and 27-6(a) and (b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1993 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 33 - Election Code

27-4.

Except as provided in § 27-2 of this article, a qualified voter desiring to vote at any
election as an absentee voter shall make application in writing to the board for an
absentee ballot, which application must be received not later than the Tuesday preceding
the election. The application shall contain [an affidavit, which need not be under oath
but which shall set forth] such information[, under penalty of perjury,] as may be
required by the State Administrative Board of Election Laws. Upon receipt of the
application the board shall issue, to the voter or a duly authorized agent, an absentee
ballot.

27-6.

(a) Upon receipt of an application [containing the affidavit], the board shall
reject the application only upon the unanimous vote of the entire board and when
rejected shall notify the applicant of the reason therefor if it determines upon inquiry that
the applicant is not legally qualified to vote at the election as an absentee voter.

- 3 -