Rules for poll volunteers

The no-electioneering zone

Every polling place has a boundary around the entrance and exit closest to where people vote. Inside that boundary, no one may campaign. Maryland law says a person may not "canvass, electioneer, or post any campaign material in the polling place or beyond a line established by signs."

Source: Maryland Code, Election Law §16-206(a)(10)

The boundary is set "as near as practicable to 100 feet from the entrance and exit." In Montgomery County, the local board can set it "at any point between 25 feet and 100 feet from the entrance and exit."

Source: Maryland Code, Election Law §16-206(b)(2)

One election judge from each major party posts the signs that mark the boundary, working together. The signs say "No Electioneering Beyond this Point." There may be no line on the ground, so look for the signs. The zone is the area between the signs and the building. You stay on the side of the signs away from the door.

Sources: Maryland Code, Election Law §16-206(b)(1) and (b)(3); COMAR 33.07.09.01D ("An election judge is not required to delineate this area with a physical line on the ground.")

Handing out the sample ballot and talking about Question 3 count as electioneering. The State Board of Elections says: "Electioneering is campaigning for or against a candidate or ballot issue. It includes handing out fliers, holding signs, and encouraging voters to support or oppose a candidate or ballot question."

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, Election Day questions

From the talking points:

• "Stay outside the electioneering boundary. It is marked at each polling place, and the election judges can show you where it is."

Follow the election judges

Election judges, under the supervision of the chief judge, keep order at the polling place. Maryland law requires them to "keep the peace." If an election judge asks you to move or to stop doing something, do it politely. Then tell your county contact.

Source: Maryland Code, Election Law §10-303(a) and (c)(1)

No photos or video of voters or ballots

Inside the polling place, Maryland does not allow phones or cameras to be used. The regulation says "electronic communication devices may not be used in a polling place," and lists cameras, cell phones, pagers and computer equipment. The exceptions are narrow: the press recording polling place operations, election officials and police on duty, and voters doing specific things such as showing ID. Greeting voters is not one of them.

Source: COMAR 33.07.04.02

That rule covers the polling place itself. Outside, the Maryland Democratic Party asks the same of every volunteer: do not photograph or film voters or ballots.

From the talking points:

• "Do not take photos of voters or ballots, and never go inside the voting room."

Stay out of the voting room

Never go into the voting room unless you are voting yourself. Maryland law lists who the election judges let into the voting room: voters, a person helping a voter who needs assistance, polling place staff, State and local Board of Elections representatives, accredited watchers and challengers, children with a voter, and others the Board authorizes. A poll greeter is not on that list.

Source: Maryland Code, Election Law §10-308(a)

Watching inside the polling place is a separate role. It requires accreditation as a challenger or watcher.

Sources: Maryland Code, Election Law §10-311; Maryland State Board of Elections, Election Day questions

Stay friendly and never argue

From the talking points:

• "Offer the sample ballot to everyone. If someone says no, thank them and let them go."
• "Keep it short and friendly. Never argue with a voter or another campaign's volunteer."

If someone is rude to you, stay calm and step away. If there is a real problem, tell an election judge or your county contact.

Maryland Democratic Party volunteer guidance.

If a voter has a problem

From the talking points:

• "If anything goes wrong, call your county contact. If a voter is turned away or has a problem voting, tell your county contact right away."

• Tell the voter to ask the chief election judge at the polling place.
• The voter can also call the Maryland State Board of Elections at 410-269-2840, or toll free at 800-222-8683.
• [MDP voter protection hotline: to be provided by MDP]
• Your confirmation email names your county contact when your county's Democratic Team has set one. If it does not, reply to that email and it will reach the organizers. The My shifts page shows your county contact too.
• Your county page lists your county Board of Elections and its phone number, where we have it.

Sources: Maryland Code, Election Law §10-303(a) (election judges work under the supervision of a chief judge); Maryland State Board of Elections, Contact Us (phone numbers)

If voters are in line when the polls close at 8 PM, tell them to stay in line. Maryland law says a voter "who has appeared at a polling place by the closing hour to cast a ballot shall be allowed to vote."

Source: Maryland Code, Election Law §10-301(b)

What to bring

• Water and snacks.
• A charged phone, and a battery pack if you have one.
• Gear for the weather: layers, rain gear and comfortable shoes.
• The sample ballots and materials from your county's Democratic Team.

Check with your county organizer about chairs.

Your county's own rules

Some county Boards of Elections publish their own rules about electioneering and signs. Each county page on this site shows its board's rules where the board has published them, with a link to the source.

2 volunteers per shift

Each polling-place shift takes 2 volunteers. Once 2 people sign up, the shift is full.

Up to 4 shifts each

You can sign up for up to 4 shifts. Shifts where you are on the waitlist count toward the 4. You cannot take two shifts at the same time. One email address is one volunteer: someone who shares your email address comes as your guest.

Bringing a guest

On the sign-up form, open "Bring a guest" and choose which of your shifts your guest joins. You work those shifts together as a pair, so each one needs 2 open spots. If you switch a shift, your guest moves with you; if you cancel, we ask whether your guest is still coming. A guest with their own email address can also sign up on their own.

Shift times

Election Day shifts are 7 to 10 AM, 10 AM to 1 PM, 1 to 4 PM and 4 to 8 PM. Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Polling hours: Maryland Code, Election Law §10-301(a)

Switching or cancelling a shift

Use the link in your confirmation email, or go to the My shifts page. If you lost the email, enter your email address on the My shifts page and we will send you a new link.

To switch, choose "Switch to a different shift." You keep your current shift until the new one is confirmed. You can only switch to a shift that has an open seat.

If you can no longer make it, please cancel as early as possible so someone else can take the shift.

The waitlist

If a shift is full, you can join its waitlist. If a seat opens up, you are moved in automatically, in the order people joined, and we email you.

Floaters

A floater is on call during a shift and goes wherever a volunteer cannot make it. Your county's Democratic Team will text or call you with a polling place on the day. Floater shifts are only offered once every polling-place shift in the county is full.

Picking up your materials

Before Election Day, you will receive information from your county's Democratic Team about picking up your materials: sample ballots, flyers and signs.