Senate rejects amendment to require accessible bus drop‑offs at early‑voting centers

The Maryland Senate debated a floor amendment to Senate Bill 100 on March 5, 2026, that would have added clearer accessibility guardrails for buses transporting voters to early‑voting centers. Senator Ellis, identified in the record as the floor amendment sponsor, explained the substitute amendment would require buses that divert from fixed routes to stop “to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with traffic laws and safety standards” at locations providing an accessible path to early‑voting center entrances and referenced adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The bill enshrines that our voting locations must be accessible to voters with physical disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Senator Ellis said during floor debate, arguing the change would fix reported accessibility gaps raised by disability‑advocacy organizations.

The floor leader said the underlying bill was already modest and worked as written and urged the body to resist the amendment. After debate the clerk called the roll; the amendment failed, with the Senate reporting 34 votes in the negative. Following that vote, Senate Bill 100 was ordered printed for third reading.

No subsequent amendment restoring these specific accessibility guardrails was recorded on March 5. Sponsors and senators who raised accessibility concerns urged continued attention to the issue as the bill moves through the legislative process.