A Summary of Laurel’s Election Law Changes

(Photo: City of Laurel)

Following the 2023 election, the city recognized a need to update its election laws, in part for simple clarifying edits, and in part for significant updates to how the law works.

To me, the goal was threefold: to see our resident’s voting rights respected, to provide an even playing field for candidates, and to have an easy-to-understand set of rules that supports the best possible outcome for our city each election cycle.

Although there’s 42 pages of edits, I’ve summarized here the key changes to save you time wading through the documents:

• “Absentee Ballots” are now rolled up into the category of “Vote by Mail” Ballots. The gist here is that vote by mail procedures have evolved in recent years and covers what used to be called absentee ballots. (TIP: To vote by mail for this year’s election, you’ll need to submit a completed application no later than noon on Tuesday, October 28.)

• “Provisional Ballots” and “Same Day Registration” procedures were further clarified to allow an individual who doesn’t appear on the voter register to supply qualifying information and have their vote count.

• Election Judges were provided explicit authority to request and direct the assistance of the Laurel Police Department and other law enforcement in maintaining the peaceful conduct of election days.

• The Board of Elections also now has explicit authority to identify parking areas for voters to provide unimpeded access to and from the polls.

• The protocols around the recall of elected officials were further refined. Essentially, various types of gross misconduct in office can lead to a petition to recall, which, if satisfactorily submitted, will trigger a yes/no vote by residents.

• The suspension and removal procedures for elected officials due to criminal conviction or excessive absences was also further refined. The thrust here is that criminal conviction related to official duties results in immediate removal, and greater than 50% absences from meetings can also lead to removal.

• The due date for candidate applications was changed from “the last Friday in September” to “a date set by the Board of Elections no later than the first Friday in August.” And a provision I advocated for: inserting a guarantee of at least a 45-day application window.

• Something considered, but not enough consensus was reached by the time of voting: whether the city’s Board of Appeals should handle any appeals of decisions made by the Board of Elections, or whether those appeals should instead go straight to the Prince George’s County Circuit Court. This is an infrequent occurrence but can happen.

• Campaign yard signs can now appear no more than 60 days prior to the election. The goal here was to avoid prolonged periods of signs dotted around town, but also to ensure newcomers had adequate time to get their name known. (TIP: This is why you didn’t see any yard signs until September 6 this year.)

• Another item considered but which did not reach adequate consensus for voting: whether a candidate may serve as their own Treasurer. As it currently stands, each campaign must appoint a Treasurer, but there is no requirement that they be someone other than the candidate themselves.

• However, a change that was passed: A campaign must set up its own separate bank account and all income (including loans) must run through the account. This is to avoid the potential use of personal bank accounts and for greater transparency of campaign finances.

• The question of what to do with leftover campaign funds was also further clarified: the funds can be either contributed to the city, returned prorata to the donors, contributed to a qualifying charitable organization, or retained by a candidate to use in the future.

• One last basic change: Adding an explicit prohibition against paying for political endorsements.

As you can see, there’s a lot here, and that’s leaving out the typographical and text re-organization amendments made. Many thanks to all who had a hand in drafting, editing, debating, amending, and passing these changes which I hope serve the city well in the years to come. Additional changes may be considered after this year’s election cycle.

I hope you’ve found this summary helpful, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to your elected officials anytime with questions or something you’d like to see considered–that’s what we’re here for!

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Adrian Simmons, a life-long Laurel resident, represents Ward 1 on the Laurel City Council.