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240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 330 340 350 360 370 380 AN ACT CONCERNING Elective Franchise Expansion and Protection of Early Voting FOR the purpose of increasing the period of time prior to an election in which the General Assembly may provide for early voting; increasing the maximum number of days which the General Assembly may provide early voting during this period; requiring that any provision for early voting made by the General Assembly provide for early voting on a minimum number of weekend days; and providing that this section does not prohibit the General Assembly from allowing the Governor to issue emergency proclamations that cancel early voting days. BY repealing, and re-enacting, with amendments, Constitution of Maryland Article I Elective Franchise Section 3 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND STUDENT LEGISLATURE, That the Constitution of Maryland reads as follows: Constitution of Maryland Article I Elective Franchise Section 3 (a) The General Assembly shall have the power to provide by suitable enactment for voting by qualified voters of the State of Maryland who are absent at the time of any election in which they are entitled to vote, for voting by other qualified voters who are unable to vote personally, or for voting by qualified voters who might otherwise choose to vote by absentee ballot, and for the manner in which and the time and place at which such absent voters may vote, and for the canvass and return of their votes. (b) The General Assembly shall have the power to provide by suitable enactment a process to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places in or outside their election districts or wards or, during the two THREE weeks immediately preceding, on no more than 10 15 other days prior to the dates specified in this Constitution. ANY SUCH PROCESS PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST ALLOW QUALIFIED VOTERS TO VOTE AT POLLING PLACES IN OR OUTSIDE THEIR ELECTION DISTRICTS OR WARDS ON NO FEWER THAN SIX DAYS, THREE OF WHICH FALL ON SATURDAYS AND THREE OF WHICH FALL ON SUNDAYS. (C) THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM PROVIDING THE GOVERNOR THE ABILITY TO ISSUE PROCLAMATIONS THAT CANCEL THE PROVISION OF THE PROCESS TO ALLOW QUALIFIED VOTERS TO VOTE AT

A024-1213 390 400 410 420 430 440 450 460 470 480 POLLING PLACES IN OR OUTSIDE THEIR ELECTION DISTRICTS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND STUDENT LEGISLATURE, That this Act shall take effect January 1, 2015. MANDATES: Martin OMalley, Governor of Maryland Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Thomas V. Mike Miller, President of the Maryland Senate John P. McDonough, Maryland Secretary of State

SPONSOR: University of Maryland, College Park Delegation