Maryland Enacts Automatic Registration

SB1048 Becomes Law Without Hogan’s Signature

Annapolis, MD — Yesterday, April 5th, the Secure and Accessible Registration Act (SARA), a form of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) became law without the signature of Governor Larry Hogan after time for him to either sign or veto the bill expired.

The law, which passed with a bipartisan vote of 93–46 in the House of Delegates and 32–15 in the Senate, will take full effect on July 1, 2019. Once implemented the law will simply change Maryland’s opt-in law to an opt-out law. “I could not be more excited about this bill becoming law,” said Joseph Kitchen, President of the Young Democrats of Maryland. “This law will make it a lot easier for young Marylanders to have their voices heard in this democracy and that is not just a win for the Democratic Party, it is a win for our entire state.” In addition to the Secure and Accessible Registration Act, the General Assembly also passed Election Day Registration, a constitutional amendment that will allow Marylanders to register to vote at the polling place on election day, as they do currently during the early voting period. Both of these bills passed with the support of Everyone Votes Maryland coalition lead by Common Cause Maryland.