Maryland voter registration will allow ‘X’ or ‘unspecified’ for gender identity

Maryland will soon allow people to put an “X” or “unspecified” for their gender on their voter registration.

Voting unanimously, the Maryland State Board of Elections passed the measure last week, following a law requiring the state Motor Vehicle Administration to offer the third option for gender on driver’s licenses and state identification cards, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The law, which Gov. Larry Hogan allowed to pass without his signature, did not have much support. Only 37% of those polled said they support offering an “X” for nongender binary people on their driver’s license and 51% were against the idea.

“I think that government forms should reflect the diversity of the people that the government is serving and representing, and this is one way of reflecting that,” said Julie Palakovich Carr, a Democratic state delegate.

During Pride Month, Mastercard let transgender users choose whatever name they want on their cards on the condition the bank that issues the card and extends the accompanying credit line approves the change.