Election Law - Voter Registration - Age and Notification to Minors
HB 153 lowers the minimum age for voter registration in Maryland from 16 to 15 years and 9 months. It requires election officials to send registered minors (ages 15-17) a notification card containing information about when they will become eligible to vote (at age 18). Additionally, it mandates that election directors send eligible minors who become 18 a notice about upcoming primary elections, available voting methods, and early voting locations. The bill directly affects minors registering to vote and election officials responsible for voter communications. It amends Maryland’s Election Law sections 3-102 and 3-301, effective October 1, 2025.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Sep 9, 2024
Last action Apr 2, 2025
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What changed between versions
First - Election Law - Voter Registration - Age and Notification to Minors
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Third - Election Law - Voter Registration - Age and Notification to Minors
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3 edits
MINOR
The bill primarily reformats the document header and explanatory notes while making no substantive changes to the actual voting eligibility rules or registration procedures. The core legal text regarding voter age requirements, registration qualifications, and notification processes remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL
Document header formatting was adjusted with minor spacing changes and addition of 'Committee Report: Favorable' and 'House action: Adopted' status indicators.
Page numbering and line numbering in the explanatory notes were reorganized but the legal content remains identical.
Added explanatory note clarifying that underlining indicates amendments to the bill.
Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2025
How they voted
101–34
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 137
Feb 13, 2025
D
Democratic98
97% Yea
R
Republican39
87% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
12
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate J. Lewis) Adopted
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Ways and Means
lower
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Ways and Means
lower
Sep 9, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
lower
9 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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