Havre de Grace council adopts changes to city election code

The Havre de Grace City Council voted 6‑0 on Nov. 17 to adopt Ordinance 12‑11, a second‑reading amendment to Chapter 61 of the city code governing elections. Council President proposed and the council approved a package of technical and procedural amendments intended to align city election language with Maryland Election Law and to clarify administrative roles.

Council President Ringstock read a set of amendments prepared with the city attorney and administration, which included replacing several references to the county board of elections with a citation to Maryland Election Law subsection 3‑403, and substituting 'city staff and city attorney' in several administrative review provisions. "This is my motion and it's based on the recommendation of the city attorney, administration with consulting our, local board of elections," Ringstock said when moving the amendments.

Council members debated the package briefly, approved the President's amendments by voice vote, and proceeded to final adoption. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Council members Shenagas, Boger, Jones, Ellis, Boyer and Council President Ringstock. The ordinance was adopted on second reading.

The amendments change how certain registration and review procedures are referenced in the municipal code; the council's action replaces explicit references to Harford County Board of Elections in some sections with state statutory cross‑references and internal city review processes. The text adopted included several line‑level edits read into the record by the council president.

The council did not record further changes to election administration policy beyond the technical edits adopted; implementation will be carried out by city staff and the city attorney's office under the charter and state authority. The council meeting packet contains the full redline and adopted language.