New Carrollton schedules public hearings on voter-eligibility proposal for April 13 and April 18

Council members set a schedule on Jan. 21 for public hearings on proposed voter‑eligibility legislation. The council’s drafting team said the language will be polished for publication in the March city bulletin; once published, the code requires at least 21 days’ notice before a hearing.

Members agreed the first public hearing will be held during the regular Monday meeting on April 13 from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by the council meeting, and that a second structured hearing would occur on Saturday, April 18. The council also decided to cancel the April town hall to reduce the number of extra meeting days volunteers would need to attend in a busy month. Staff noted that internet/Wi‑Fi limitations at some venues may constrain remote participation and that the hearings will likely be in person.

Council members debated whether to split hearings across a Saturday and an evening date or to hold one hearing during a council night and a follow-up on another day; they settled on April 13 and April 18 to allow time for public notice and community discussion. Staff and council prioritized giving the public sufficient time to review the published language and planned to post the draft in the March bulletin and online before the hearings.

Why it matters: The hearings will be the primary public forum for residents to comment on proposed changes to voter‑eligibility rules. Council members emphasized balancing public access with the scheduling burden on volunteer council members and noted the importance of adequate public notice.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the draft language for publication and confirm venues and logistics that support in‑person attendance and, where possible, remote participation.