Status as of Friday, March 5, 2021
The Sierra Club advocates for both the natural and human environments, including racial and social justice. As a grassroots organization, we support legislation to make registration and voting as accessible and convenient as possible for all eligible voters, regardless of whether they choose to vote in person at Early Voting Centers or on election day or by mail.
The Sierra Club has submitted testimony in support of 11 bills that will improve the election process and increase access to registration and voting.
Student and Military Voter Empowerment Act (HB 156 Del. Luedtke, SB 283 Sen. Elfreth)
Makes registration and voting more accessible for college students, military and overseas voters, and voters living in large residential institutional communities.
We signed on to testimony written by MaryPIRG in support of the bill.
HB 156 has passed the House. SB 283 was voted out of committee is now being considered by the full Senate. Different amendments on the two bills will need to be reconciled between the House and Senate.
Value My Vote Act (HB 222 Del. Wilkins, SB 224 Sen. West)
Election Law – Correctional Facilities – Voter Registration and Voting
Makes registration and voting more accessible for eligible voters who are incarcerated or recently incarcerated.
We submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
HB 222 has been voted favorable with amendments by House Ways & Means Committee. It was jointly referred to the Judiciary Committee, and is awaiting action by that committee.
Public Financing Act – Matching Fund Revisions (Maryland Fair Elections Act) (HB 424 Del. Feldmark, SB 415 Sen. Pinsky)
Improves Maryland’s optional system for matching contributions of candidates for Governor, including stronger matching for small contributions. Public financing is one way to reduce the influence of large contributors in elections.
We signed on to testimony written by Common Cause in support of the bill.
SB 415 has been voted favorable with amendments by the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. It was jointly referred to the Budget and Taxation Committee, and is awaiting action by that committee.
Election Law – Voting Locations – Accessibility by Public Transportation and Voters With Disabilities (HB 493 Del. Guyton)
Encourages locating Early Voting Centers and drop boxes near public transportation stops and accessible to voters with disabilities.
We signed on to testimony written by Disability Rights Maryland in support of the bill.
Many key provisions of the bill are included in two other bills, HB 247 and HB 656, which have both passed the House.
Local Government – County Commissioner Elections – District Voting (HB 655 Del. Crosby)
As filed, HB 655 required county commissioners elected from districts to be elected by the voters in that district (i.e., not by all voters in the county).
We submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
The bill was contentious on the House floor for several days. An amendment on the House floor expanded the bill to also require in-district voting for county Board of Education districts. The bill has passed the House.
Election Law – Early Voting Centers – Number Required (HB 745 Del. Luedtke)
Increases accessibility to voting by increasing the number of Early Voting Centers in most counties.
We signed on to testimony written by MaryPIRG in support of the bill.
Hearing was February 16, awaiting committee action.
Montgomery County – Voting Methods MC 22–21 (HB 767 Montgomery County Delegation)
Authorizes Montgomery County to decide whether to use ranked choice voting for local county offices.
We submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
Hearing was February 16, awaiting committee action.
Election Law – Early Voting Centers – Number Required (HB 1005 Del. Crosby)
Increases accessibility to voting by increasing the number of Early Voting Centers in St. Mary’s and Washington Counties.
We submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
Hearing was February 23, awaiting committee action.
Mail–In Voting Enhancement Act (HB 1047 Del. Wilkins)
Increases accessibility to voting by requiring use of drop boxes, more robust ballot tracking, and opportunity to cure minor defects (such as not signing the outer envelope) in mail-in ballots in future elections.
We submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
Hearing was February 23, awaiting committee action.
Election Law – Permanent Absentee Ballot List (HB 1048 Del. Wilkins, SB 683 Sen. Kramer)
Creates a permanent absentee ballot list that relieves voters who always vote absentee from having to submit a separate application each election year.
We submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
HB 1048 has passed the House.
Mail–In Voting – Certification of Assistance, Design of Materials, and Ballot Curing (HB 1345 Del. Kaiser)
Requires plain language and clearer instructions for absentee ballots and provides a process for voters to cure minor defects (such as not signing the outer envelope).
We are submitting written testimony in support of the bill.
Hearing is scheduled for March 9.
Rich Norling
Political Chair, Maryland Chapter