2013 Maryland Code
ELECTION LAW
§ 3-203 - Application for registration at Motor Vehicle Administration

§3-203.

(a) The Motor Vehicle Administration shall provide the opportunity to apply to register to vote or update a voter registration record to each individual who:

(1) applies for or renews a driver’s license or identification card; or

(2) changes a name or address on an existing driver’s license or identification card.

(b) (1) The Motor Vehicle Administration shall inquire orally or in writing whether the applicant wishes to register to vote or update a voter registration record during the transactions specified under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) If the applicant chooses to register to vote or to update a voter registration record:

(i) all applicable information received by the Motor Vehicle Administration in the course of completing a transaction under subsection (a) of this section shall be transferred to a voter registration application;

(ii) any additional necessary information shall be obtained by the Motor Vehicle Administration and may not duplicate any information already obtained while completing a transaction under subsection (a) of this section; and

(iii) a voter registration application with all of the applicant’s voter registration information shall be presented to the applicant to sign or affirm electronically.

(3) (i) An applicant may decline to register to vote, update the applicant’s voter registration record, or change the applicant’s name or address by:

1. affirmatively indicating as such on the application; or

2. failing to sign the voter registration application.

(ii) The Motor Vehicle Administration shall maintain declination information in a manner specified jointly by the Motor Vehicle Administration and the State Board.

(4) Within 5 days of the receipt of an application under subsection (a) of this section, the Motor Vehicle Administration shall forward to the State Board the voter registration information in a manner and format specified jointly by the Motor Vehicle Administration and the State Board.

(c) (1) (i) In consultation with the Motor Vehicle Administration, the State Board shall prepare a voter registration application to be used for voter registration at the Motor Vehicle Administration.

(ii) Except as provided in this section, the voter registration portion of the application may not require information that duplicates information required in the driver’s license or identification card portion of the application.

(2) The voter registration portion of the application shall:

(i) contain the same information as the statewide voter registration application prescribed in § 3-202(a) of this subtitle; and

(ii) require only the minimum amount of information necessary, including the applicant’s telephone number:

1. to prevent duplicate voter registration; and

2. to enable the appropriate election official to assess the eligibility of an applicant and to administer voter registration and other aspects of the election process.

(3) The application shall contain a box for the applicant to check, with the statement, “I do not wish to register to vote at this time”.

(d) The Motor Vehicle Administration shall follow the procedures established jointly by the Motor Vehicle Administration and the State Board to process the voter registration information received under this section.

(e) Information relating to the failure of an applicant for a driver’s license or identification card to register to vote may not be used for any purpose other than the maintenance of registration statistics.