# Maryland SB 0670: Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions Maryland SB 0670, Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Cheryl C. Kagan (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 468) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0670-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0670 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 468 - Sponsor: Cheryl C. Kagan (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Elections, Arrests, Ballots -see also- Abs&MailInBallots; Abs&MailInVoting, Certifications, Elections Supervisors, Elections, State Board of, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Political Candidates, Reports, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Standards and Best Practices, Voting -see also- Absentee and Mail-In Voting, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (213 yes, 5 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Election officials and police authority at polls: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, police on duty at polling places must follow orders from specified election officials. An arrest made under those orders is treated like it was made with a valid warrant. The State Administrator, Deputy, or local election director can keep the peace and order arrests for bre… - More groups may observe vote counting: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, candidates on the ballot in a county, political parties, political committees, and some required filers can name registered voters as observers at counting centers. - Accredited poll watchers get formal rights: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, more groups can name accredited challengers and watchers, including the State Board, local boards, candidates on the ballot, parties, political committees, and some required filers. Accredited observers can enter 30 minutes before opening, stay all day and through closing, a… - Rules and limits for poll observers: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, challengers and watchers cannot talk with voters, help them vote, try to learn how they voted, or handle election documents or equipment. Election judges or the local director can remove an observer who breaks these rules. A challenger or watcher must be present 30 minutes b… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Cheryl C. Kagan (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 41 | 1 | 1 | | 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-03-20 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 38 | 4 | 1 | ## Actions (18) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 468 - 2026-04-09: Passed Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (41-1) (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House) - 2026-04-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-04-03: Favorable with Amendments {763329/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-04-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-03-24: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-03-21: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (38-4) (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments {183727/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Motion Laid Over (Senator Ready) Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {183727/1 (Senate) - 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-02-06: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_468_sb0670e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0670e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0670t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0670f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_468_sb0670e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0670e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0670t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0670f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0670-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).