Testimony: Election Law – Early Voting Centers – Hours of Operation

Rishi Shah, Maryland PIRG Associate

Testimony for SB0596

Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, Thursday, February 18, 2021

Election Law – Early Voting Centers – Hours of Operation

Position: Favorable

Maryland PIRG is a state based, non-partisan, citizen-funded public interest advocacy organization with grassroots members across the state and a student funded, student directed chapter at the University of Maryland College Park. For forty five years we’ve stood up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. That includes a long history of working to help people register and vote.

We support SB596 requiring early voting centers to be open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for early voting days in all elections. Currently, early voting centers are only required to be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for non-presidential general elections and primary elections, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for presidential general elections. The House passed the cross-file bill to SB596 by a vote of 119-11, and we hope the Senate will move quickly to do the same. 

SB596 would provide flexibility to voters in presidential primaries and midterm elections. Extending the availability of early voting by two hours in the morning would enable voters to more easily incorporate voting into their day. This would be especially helpful for Marylanders who face demanding work schedules or family obligations—voters for whom the current 10 a.m. opening time is inconvenient or impractical.

The 2020 election saw long lines at many early voting centers. While the dramatic increase in early voting in 2020 was largely due to COVID-19, there have often been long lines at early voting sites because there are far fewer early voting sites than Election Day precinct sites. In the 2018 midterm, voters faced lines of up to 90 minutes long. SB596 would help to reduce these lines, thus addressing a persistent and preventable problem in Maryland’s early voting system.

SB596 represents a common-sense step towards expanding the accessibility of early voting in Maryland. The 2020 general election notwithstanding, Maryland has seen a consistent increase in early in-person voting since 2010. Marylanders are increasingly turning to early voting as an alternative to voting on Election Day itself. SB596 responds to this demonstrated state-wide demand for improved access to early voting.

We respectfully request a favorable report.