April 3, 2026

Dear Neighbor:

Although April Fool’s Day was this week, the Trump Administration’s recent actions on our elections are no joke.

Especially in these chaotic and divisive times, defending our democracy must remain a top priority. In his latest Executive Order, Donald Trump once again revealed his scheme to have the federal government take over our elections. The Constitution is clear: states run their elections.

Combatting Trump

The Trump Administration’s outlandish statements and actions are fueling a rumor mill of crazy and unfounded claims. These efforts amount to a troubling power grab that threatens states’ ability to protect voters and administer fair elections. That is why, once again this legislative session, I have introduced a number of bills to ensure that Maryland’s voting process remains inclusive, accurate, safe, and transparent.

Protecting Postmarked Ballots

On the evening of March 31, 2026, Donald Trump issued an Executive Order in an ongoing attempt to seize control ahead of the midterms. It:

• Mandates the Department of Homeland Security to create “State Citizenship Lists” to determine who is a citizen for voting purposes;
• Instructs states to stop counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day– even if those ballots were postmarked on or before Election Day; and
• Directs the U.S. Postal Service to create individually identifiable envelopes and rules for handling them.

Equally concerning, the Supreme Court will rule on a case challenging Mississippi’s law (very similar to ours) that allows mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received no more than five days later.

In response, Del. Kris Fair and I have sponsored emergency legislation, “Postmarking Ballots” (SB949/HB1069), to protect Maryland voters and, among other things, ensure that ballots cast on time continue to be counted.

Elevating Elections

Many of my election bills are successfully moving through the legislative process, while others may need to wait until next year. Fundamentally, voters must have confidence that our elections are safe, inclusive, and transparent.

We can do this by:

• Simplifying ballot language to be free of jargon, double negatives, and legalese;
• Holding members of the Electoral College accountable to voters’ Presidential preference;
• Requiring greater transparency from Exploratory Committees and closing financial loopholes;
• Maintaining safety at polling places by empowering local elections officials;
• Increasing opportunities for unaffiliated voters to participate in Primary Elections; and
• Mandating that more legislative vacancies be filled by Special Elections rather than appointments arising from political committee selections.

Additionally, as more local governments explore Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), which better reflects voter preferences, I continue to advocate for easy access to RCV for counties or municipalities that want it.

Advocating for one of my many election bills with State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis. 

With just 11 days until adjournment on Monday, April 13th at midnight, the majority of the issues I’ve described above are still in flux. We will continue to debate and advocate into the wee hours on these election bills, as well as on 3‑1‑1, 9‑1‑1, consumer protection, and many of my other legislative priorities.

Before I close this update on elections, it would be irresponsible not to remind you to check your voter registration! As you may know, you can only vote in our Primary Elections if you are registered with either of the two major political parties.

Thanks for your interest!

Follow me on Facebook (@CherylCKagan), Twitter/X (@CherylKagan), and Instagram (@CherylCKagan) for photos and posts. My website has a portal to request help with challenges you’re having with State government or communicate legislative opinions. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify to be alerted to new episodes of my “Kibbitzing with Kagan” podcast. And, you can always send me questions or comments via email.

Best,

Cheryl

Cheryl C. Kagan

State Senator, District 17

(Gaithersburg & Rockville)

Vice Chair, Education, Energy, & the Environment (& Elections!) Committee

Cheryl.Kagan@senate.maryland.gov

www.CherylKagan.org

410-841-3134

P.S. To close out Women’s History Month, I spoke at President Ferguson’s press conference celebrating the accomplishments of women in our Senate. I was also happy to reconnect with Baltimore native U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and reflect on the continued importance of women’s leadership in government.