2013 Maryland Code
ELECTION LAW
§ 10-303 - Authority and duties of election judges

§10-303.

(a) Under the supervision of a chief judge, an election judge shall:

(1) carry out the tasks assigned by the local board, including those set forth in any election judge instruction manual developed in accordance with § 10-206 of this title, during the period of time that begins before the election through the close of the polls and the return of materials to the local board; and

(2) take measures throughout election day to assure that:

(i) each voter’s right to cast a ballot in privacy is maintained;

(ii) the integrity of the voting process is preserved;

(iii) the accuracy of the counting process is protected;

(iv) order in the polling place is maintained; and

(v) all election laws are observed.

(b) While serving as an election judge on an election day, an election judge shall wear a badge that:

(1) is in plain view;

(2) identifies the person as an election judge; and

(3) identifies the person by name and by the ward and precinct or election district for which the person is an election judge.

(c) An election judge shall:

(1) keep the peace; and

(2) order the arrest of any person who:

(i) breaches the peace;

(ii) breaches any provision of this article; or

(iii) interferes with the work of the judges in conducting the election and carrying out their assigned tasks.

(d) (1) An election judge shall protect a challenger or watcher in the exercise of the rights of a challenger or watcher as provided in § 10-311 of this subtitle.

(2) (i) An election judge is not required to admit a challenger or watcher to a polling place before the polls open if the challenger or watcher was not present at the polling place at least one-half hour before its opening.

(ii) An election judge may require challengers and watchers to leave a polling place before it opens if a majority of the election judges present agrees that the presence of the challengers and watchers will prevent the timely opening of the polling place.

(3) An election judge shall designate reasonable times for challengers and watchers to examine polling lists.