Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Signature Requirements and Verification

HB 67 requires Maryland local election boards to verify both the voter's signature and a witness's signature on absentee ballot return envelopes before counting the ballot, with exceptions for active-duty military members overseas and their spouses/depedents living overseas. The bill mandates that boards compare the voter's signature against their registration record to confirm authenticity, replacing current processes for signature verification. This directly affects all absentee voters who mail in ballots, except those covered by the military exceptions. The law aims to strengthen ballot security by adding a witness signature requirement and standardized verification steps for all absentee ballots. It takes effect October 1, 2025.