(a)   Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a local
board, at the signed request of a registered voter, shall change that
voter's party affiliation, or change the voter to or from a decline,
at any time that registration is open.
  (b)   (1)   Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, party
affiliation may not be changed:
      (i)   from 9 p.m. on the Monday, or the next regular business day if the
Monday is a legal holiday, that is 12 weeks before the day on which a
primary election is to be held under § 8-201 of this article, until
and including the day on which the registration reopens after the
primary election is held; and
      (ii)   from and including the day of issuance of a gubernatorial proclamation
calling a special election, pursuant to § 8-710 of this article, or
from 5 p.m. on the next regular business day if the day of issuance is
a legal holiday, until and including the day on which that special
election is held.
    (2)   If a voter requests a party affiliation change during a period
specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the local board shall
make the change if:
      (i)   there is sufficient evidence, as determined by the local boards
pursuant to regulations adopted by the State Board, that the request
was mailed before the beginning of the period specified in paragraph
(1) of this subsection; or
      (ii)   the request was submitted by the voter to the Motor Vehicle
Administration, a voter registration agency, another local board, or
the State Board before the beginning of the period specified in
paragraph (1) of this subsection.
  (c)   If a registered voter has moved from one county to another within the
State since the last general election, the voter may change party
affiliation or change to or from a decline, one time only, during a
period specified in subsection (b)(1) of this section.
  (d)   An individual whose registration has been canceled at the individual's
request within a period specified in subsection (b) of this section may
not reregister in the same county during the same period with a party
affiliation or nonaffiliation different from the previous registration.
|