HB 839 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Election Law - Provisional Ballots - Nonpartisan Board of Education Contests

HB 839 modifies Maryland's election law to clarify when provisional ballots for nonpartisan school board elections must be counted. Specifically, it requires local election boards to count a voter's ballot in a nonpartisan school board contest if the voter listed a different political party affiliation than on file but selected a candidate in that nonpartisan race. This applies only to school board contests (which are not partisan), not to partisan races or other ballot choices. The bill ensures these votes are not rejected solely due to a mismatched party affiliation, while maintaining other provisional ballot rules. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Election Law - Provisional Ballots - Nonpartisan Board of Education Contests → Third - Election Law - Provisional Ballots - Nonpartisan Board of Education Contests · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies how provisional ballots are handled in nonpartisan Board of Education contests when a voter's claimed political party affiliation differs from their registered affiliation. Previously, such ballots were counted only for Board of Education contests if the voter cast a provisional ballot for a different party. The bill clarifies and preserves this rule while also updating the formatting and structure of the legislative text.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on provisional ballot procedures, but it clarifies the specific conditions under which votes in nonpartisan Board of Education contests are counted when party affiliation differs.

ELIGIBILITY

Reorganized the criteria for rejecting provisional ballots, moving from a numbered list format to a more structured subsection format with clearer numbering.

REQUIREMENT

Added a committee report and house action status indicating the bill was favorably reported and adopted by the House.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' to reflect its progression through the legislative process.

Added signature lines for Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate at the end of the document.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

45–1

Passed

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1 Nay

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 391

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-1)

senate

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Ways and Means

lower

Feb 28, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (126-12-1)

house of delegates

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors