Bill > HB245

This bill, titled the Student Voter Empowerment Act of 2020, aims to increase voter registration and voting among students enrolled in institutions of higher education in Maryland. The key provisions are: 1. The State Board of Elections must maintain a webpage with clear information about voter registration and voting for students, including links to information on voting by absentee ballot for students outside the state. 2. Public institutions of higher education must designate a staff member as a student voting coordinator to develop and implement a plan to increase student voter registration and voting. This plan must include widely disseminating voting information, providing voter registration materials on campus, accommodating early voting centers or polling places on campus, and supporting student organizations engaged in voter mobilization efforts. 3. Public and certain private nonprofit institutions of higher education must provide a prominent link on their student portals to the State Board's webpage on student voter information or include the same information on their own webpage. 4. The Maryland Higher Education Commission must compile and report annually on the institutions' efforts to improve student voter access. 5. The bill also requires local election boards to establish polling places on or near the campuses of certain large public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0245?ys=2020RS