FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2025

Senator Cheryl C. Kagan

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

(410) 841-3134

Cheryl.Kagan@senate.state.md.us

(ANNAPOLIS, MD)  Senator Cheryl C. Kagan, Vice Chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environmental (EEE) Committee, is sponsoring eleven bills to update and strengthen our election laws. Her focus is making the General Assembly more representative; closing campaign finance loopholes; simplifying ballot language; and much more. While some of the bills are reintroductions from last session, Sen. Kagan worked throughout the interim with advocates and national experts to craft some new proposals.

The first three of her bills will be heard in the Senate EEE Committee on Wednesday, February 5, at 1:00 PM.

• Special Elections (SB2/HB174: Del. Foley)– More than one fourth of the General Assembly was selected (appointed) rather than elected. Since the last legislative session ended, eleven of my colleagues have resigned– and there could be more. My proposed Constitutional Amendment would enable voters to choose their legislators for some vacancies. It passed the Senate by a 43-2 vote in 2024.

• Exploratory Committees (SB27/HB111: Del. Palakovich Carr)– Establishes guardrails by requiring disclosure; limiting the purpose for which funds can be expended; and creating processes for dissolving these committees. A broader version of this bill, which included both Exploratory and Draft Committees, passed the Senate unanimously in both 2023 and 2024.

• Municipal Elections (SB88/HB322: Del. Wims)– The State Administrator of Elections would be authorized to support our cities and towns with their municipal elections when possible. This bill is the result of a negotiation between the State Board of Elections (SBE) and the Maryland Municipal League.

• Postage-Paid Voter Registration (SB323/HB624: Del. Wells)– A constituent flagged for me that mail-in voter registration forms don’t include pre-paid postage. This modest fix will eliminate any financial barriers to voting.

• Local Board of Elections (LBE) Transparency (SB337/HB412: Del. Korman)– During the COVID-19 pandemic, LBEs live-streamed their meetings and canvasses for public accountability. Though Maryland’s election processes are fair and secure, discontinuing this practice could result in doubts and conspiracy theories. This bill requires public broadcast and online access for a minimum of five years.

• Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) (SB383/HB215: Del. Fair)– RCV better reflects voter intent by allowing for order of candidate preference. This bill lets SBE set standards and certify election-related technology to accommodate this increasingly popular voting method.

• Election Judge No-Shows (SB534/HB586: Del. Jones)– Under current law, judges who don’t show up on Election Day could still be paid. This bipartisan, fiscally responsible proposal would clarify that election judges be paid only after they serve. It also permits public school students to receive both Student Service Learning hours and compensation when they work at the polls.

• Partial Ballot Acceptance (SB543/HB839: Del. Roberson)– Provisional ballots that are currently rejected would be counted in (nonpartisan) Board of Education contests.

• Simplified Ballot Language (SB615/HB816: Del. Feldmark)– Ballot measures would require a clear title; plain-language description of the proposed policy change; and a concise explanation of the practical outcomes of a “yes” or “no” vote. Furthermore, avoiding legal jargon, double negatives, and passive voice aligns with the Moore/Miller Administration’s Plain Language Executive Order. A modified version passed the Senate by a 40-7 vote last year.

• Scam PACs (SB633/HB906: Del. Palakovich Carr)– Given warnings from the FBI and the Federal Election Commission, political entities that falsely claim to represent a candidate, political party, or organization must be regulated. It passed the Senate unanimously last year.

• Changing the Primary Date (SB645/HB945: Del. Wilkins)– Moving Election Day from the last Tuesday to the fourth Tuesday in June would resolve scheduling conflicts with summer travel, school renovations, summer camps, and holidays; aid in recruiting election judges and student volunteers; and potentially increase voter turnout.

According to Sen. Kagan, “My legislation builds on Maryland’s strong election administration by ensuring greater transparency, accessibility, and trust in the electoral process.”

# # # # # #