HB 493
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
House Bill 493 (Delegate Guyton)
Ways and Means
Election Law - Voting Locations - Accessibility by Public Transportation and
Voters With Disabilities
This bill requires – in a county that has fixed-route public transportation service – that
priority be given to locating ballot drop boxes, polling places, and early voting centers not
more than 500 feet from a public transportation station or stop. In addition, each ballot drop
box must be placed in a manner that is accessible to voters with disabilities, including
voters using wheelchairs. The bill defines “ballot drop box” as a secure, durable, outdoor
container that is officially designated by a local board of elections exclusively for voters to
deposit completed absentee ballots in person.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: The bill does not directly affect State finances.
Local Effect: Local government expenditures are expected to increase, as discussed
below. This bill may impose a mandate on a unit of local government.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law:
Designation of Polling Places
State law authorizes local boards of elections to (1) create and alter the boundaries for
precincts in the county; (2) designate the location for polling places in any election district,
ward, or precinct in the county; and (3) combine or abolish precincts. Each polling place
must be located as conveniently as practicable for the majority of registered voters assigned
to the polling place. A local board may create a new precinct or make a change in a precinct
boundary or polling place only in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board
of Elections (SBE), which, for polling places, require a polling place accessibility survey
and notice to affected voters.
Designation of Early Voting Centers
Pursuant to statute, each early voting center must satisfy general requirements that apply
to polling places, including that each polling place must be located as conveniently as
practicable for the majority of registered voters assigned to the polling place.
No later than six months before a primary election, SBE, in collaboration with the local
board in each county, must designate each early voting center in that county.
SBE regulations require local boards of elections to submit to SBE, at least seven months
before a primary election, a form for each proposed early voting center that includes
information on, among other things, whether the proposed early voting center:
 is located within specified distances of where specified percentages of the registered
voters in the county live;
 is served by public transportation and roads; and
 has parking facilities sufficient for early voting taking into consideration the normal
business activities of the proposed early voting center.
Upon receipt of a form for a proposed early voting center, the SBE regulations require the
State Administrator to review the form and make a recommendation to SBE as to whether
to accept or reject the proposed early voting center. Under the regulations, SBE must vote
on a local board’s proposed early voting center within 30 days of receipt of the form and
give deference to a proposed early voting center that meets the criteria on the form.
Local Fiscal Effect: Local government expenditures increase to the extent that
(1) locating ballot drop boxes, polling places, or early voting centers within 500 feet of a
public transportation station or stop increases local boards of elections costs, in comparison
to other locations and/or (2) the bill requires evaluation and relocation of existing ballot
drop box locations, polling places, or early voting centers that would not otherwise be
relocated for other reasons (e.g., redistricting, in the case of polling places).
Montgomery and Calvert counties, for example, provided estimates for the purchase and
installation of security cameras for ballot drop boxes that, under the bill are placed in
locations within 500 feet of a public transportation station or stop without existing security,
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but otherwise would be placed in locations with existing security. Montgomery County
indicated that the costs for a security camera can vary depending on a number of variables,
but provided an estimated cost of $5,800 per camera (one per ballot drop box), based on
the county’s actual cost for a camera installed in 2020. Calvert County provided an
estimated cost of $2,300 per camera.
To the extent the bill requires evaluation and relocation of ballot drop box locations, polling
places, or early voting centers that would not otherwise be relocated, counties incur
personnel costs for work associated with the relocation, and costs of notifying affected
voters of relocation of any polling places. Montgomery County, for example, estimates that
relocating five polling places, five ballot drop boxes, and one early voting center increases
expenditures by $46,500 in fiscal 2022, consisting of $4,400 in temporary staff and
overtime costs for site surveys and other tasks associated with changing voting locations,
$13,100 in mailing costs to notify affected voters of the five relocated polling places, and
$29,000, for installation of security cameras for the five relocated ballot drop boxes. The
county’s expenditures increase by a greater amount if a greater amount of relocation of
voting locations is required under the bill.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): State Board of Elections; Maryland Department of
Transportation; Baltimore City; Calvert, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties;
Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - January 31, 2021
rh/hlb
Analysis by: Scott D. Kennedy Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 493/ Page 3


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Election Law - Voting Locations - Accessibility by Public Transportation and Voters With Disabilities: 9-310.1 Election Law, 10-101 Election Law, 10-301.1 Election Law