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Bel Air staff propose election-code changes after state shifts control of equipment leasing
Summary
Town staff introduced Ordinance 852-26 to update Bel Air’s Chapter 37 (Elections), removing presumptive references to the state or county board of elections for leasing voting equipment and proposing a 90-day candidate-filing window; the ordinance is slated for introduction at the Feb. 17 town meeting.
Bel Air town staff presented Ordinance 852-26, a draft change to Chapter 37 of the town code aimed at removing language that assumes the Harford County or state boards of elections will lease voting equipment to the town.
Town administrator Mike said the proposal responds to a legal shift after a state board opinion and subsequent legislation. “The state board does not have the legal authority to enter into agreements with municipalities to lease voting equipment,” he said, describing the change that prompted the ordinance and referencing House Bill 322 and its effective date.
The ordinance would replace explicit references to the County or state board with a generic reference to a “local election authority,” preserving the town’s ability to enter lease agreements when possible while reflecting that municipalities may need to be more self-sufficient. Staff emphasized the cost implications for a small municipality if it must procure or lease its own vetted voting systems.
In addition, staff proposed a 90-day filing window for candidates and several technical edits: a rule that if a filing deadline falls on a weekend or holiday the filing would default to the next regular business day, and a change to standard town-hall filing hours (proposed 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Commissioners asked staff to refine language and renumber affected sections if entire subsections (for example, a deleted 37-14) are removed. Chair Eding confirmed the ordinance will be introduced at the Feb. 17 town meeting, with a public hearing planned for the second meeting in March.
The ordinance was discussed but not voted on at the work session. Staff said they will return a revised draft reflecting the board’s drafting suggestions.
What’s next: Ordinance 852-26 is scheduled for introduction at the Feb. 17 town meeting and will return to the board for a public hearing in March.
