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HB 1110

Election Law - Individuals Released from State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jheanelle Wilkins

Maryland bill automatically restores voter registration for people released from state prisons, eliminating manual re-registration requirements and expanding political participation for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Hearing 2/24 at 11:00 a.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1110

Legislative bill overview

HB 1110 would automatically restore voter registration for individuals released from Maryland state correctional facilities, rather than requiring them to re-register manually. The bill streamlines the process by having the Department of Corrections notify election officials upon release, enabling automatic reinstatement of voting rights for eligible former incarcerated individuals.

Why is this important

Approximately 20,000+ individuals are released from Maryland prisons annually, many of whom lose voting eligibility during incarceration. This bill addresses barriers to political participation for a historically marginalized population by removing administrative obstacles to voting—a key component of successful reentry. It also reduces administrative burden on both corrections and election departments through automation.

Potential points of contention

  • Disenfranchisement philosophy: Some argue maintaining voting restrictions for incarcerated individuals or those with certain felonies serves as punishment or protects electoral integrity, while others view automatic restoration as essential to rehabilitation and reintegration
  • Data coordination challenges: Requires accurate information-sharing between Department of Corrections and State Board of Elections; errors could affect eligibility or create duplicate registrations
  • Scope of restoration: Unclear whether bill applies to all released individuals or only those whose sentences are fully completed, and whether it addresses those still under probation/parole supervision with potential voting restrictions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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