HB 895
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
House Bill 895 (Delegate Mangione)
Ways and Means
Election Law - Polling Places at Continuing Care Retirement Communities
This bill requires that a separate precinct be established in a continuing care retirement
community if the continuing care retirement community requests that a polling place be
established on the community premises.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: General fund expenditures increase by approximately $2,500 per additional
polling place in FY 2022 and by approximately $1,000 per additional polling place
annually thereafter. Revenues are not affected.
Local Effect: Local government expenditures increase, in certain counties, in the range of
$12,000 - $23,000 per additional polling place in FY 2022 and in the range of
$4,000 - $11,000 per additional polling place annually thereafter. The bill may impose a
mandate on a unit of local government.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Bill Summary: The bill requires a local board of elections to establish a separate precinct
in a continuing care retirement community specifically to serve at least the residents of the
retirement community if the continuing care retirement community requests that a polling
place be established on the community premises.
If a polling place is established at a continuing care retirement community, the continuing
care retirement community must (1) provide without charge to the local board of elections
a facility for use as a polling place that meets all applicable requirements under State
election law and as established by the State Board of Elections (SBE) and (2) provide
assistance to the local board of elections in recruiting election judges from among the
residents of the continuing care retirement community to staff the polling place.
“Continuing care retirement community” means a facility in which a provider that holds a
certificate of registration from the Maryland Department of Aging provides care to at least
200 individuals who are at least age 60 and not related by blood or marriage to the provider.
Current Law: As it deems expedient for the convenience of voters, a local board of
elections may (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.
A local board must establish a separate precinct on campus, or within one-half mile of the
campus, to specifically serve a public or private institution of higher education if the local
board determines that at least 500 students, faculty, and staff who attend or work at the
institution are registered voters in the precinct in which the institution is located. A local
board is not required to establish a separate precinct if there is already an established
precinct within one-half mile of the public or private institution of higher education’s
campus that serves the voters who attend or work at the institution.
State Fiscal Effect: General fund expenditures increase to the extent additional polling
places are established at continuing care retirement communities pursuant to the bill.
SBE shares voting system costs with the local boards of elections pursuant to Chapter 564
of 2001. Based on polling place equipment estimates provided by Baltimore City and
Calvert and Prince George’s counties, SBE costs increase by approximately $2,500 per
additional polling place in fiscal 2022 and by approximately $1,000 per additional polling
place annually thereafter, reflecting the State’s share of voting system costs for each
additional polling place.
This estimate is based on costs for the State’s current voting system, the contract for which
extends through the 2022 elections. Actual voting system costs associated with this bill
may vary from this estimate depending on how costs of the statewide voting system change
for the 2024 and future elections.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
The Maryland Department of Aging indicates that there are 38 operating or approved
continuing care retirement communities in Maryland. The communities contain just over
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17,000 continuing care units, of which over 12,000 are independent living, over 2,000 are
assisted living, and over 2,000 are nursing care. Of the 38 communities, 31 have 200 or
more residents.
Local Fiscal Effect: Local government expenditures increase to the extent additional
polling places are established at continuing care retirement communities pursuant to the
bill. For example, based on estimates of polling place equipment and other costs provided
by Baltimore City and Calvert and Prince George’s counties, local board of elections costs
increase in those counties, per polling place, by approximately $12,000 in Baltimore City,
approximately $12,000 in Calvert County, and approximately $23,000 in Prince George’s
County, in fiscal 2022. Costs also increase for those local boards by approximately $5,000
in Baltimore City, approximately $4,000 in Calvert County, and approximately $11,000 in
Prince George’s County, annually thereafter. Based on the locations of existing continuing
care retirement communities, it appears that, in each of those counties, only one additional
polling place may be established as a result of the bill, but other counties may need to
establish multiple additional polling places. The additional costs account for the local
boards of elections’ share of voting system costs, plus election judge, poll book, supplies,
and other costs.
As mentioned above, this estimate is based on costs for the State’s current voting system,
the contract for which extends through the 2022 elections. Actual voting system costs
associated with this bill may vary from this estimate depending on how costs of the
statewide voting system change for the 2024 and future elections.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: HB 1107 of 2020 received a hearing in the House Ways and Means
Committee, but no further action was taken. Its cross file, SB 22, received an unfavorable
report from the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. SB 411
of 2019 received an unfavorable report from the Senate Education, Health, and
Environmental Affairs Committee.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): State Board of Elections; Maryland Department of Aging;
Baltimore City; Calvert, Harford, Prince George’s, and Wicomico counties; Department of
Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 12, 2021
rh/hlb
HB 895/ Page 3
Analysis by: Scott D. Kennedy Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 895/ Page 4


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Election Law - Polling Places at Continuing Care Retirement Communities: 2-303 Election Law