On Tuesday, state election officials reached a unanimous decision to implement protocols that will invalidate original mail-in ballots if voters opt to use a replacement ballot.
The Maryland State Board of Elections convened an emergency session on Tuesday to address complications that arose from mail-in ballot errors during the state primary.
In early May, the vendor responsible for printing ballots, Taylor Print & Visual Impressions Inc., mistakenly sent out incorrect Democratic and Republican ballots to some voters. The vendor acknowledged the error and agreed to provide replacement ballots at no cost to the state.
The confusion particularly affected voters who had already submitted their original ballots, especially those who received ballots that did not match their party affiliation.
During the critical emergency meeting, which took place just two days before the start of early in-person voting in Maryland, the board unanimously approved new protocols. These will render any original mail-in ballot void in the state’s voter registration system if a replacement ballot is issued. Consequently, only the replacement ballots, mailed out as of May 27, will be counted.
However, if a voter already returned an original ballot that was designated for the incorrect party, that ballot will still be counted but only in nonpartisan races, such as those for the state board of education, according to the elections board.
If a voter submits both an original and a replacement ballot, only the replacement will be counted. Similarly, if a voter returns an original ballot and votes using a provisional ballot at an in-person voting location, only the provisional ballot will be accepted.
To assist voters navigating what officials have acknowledged to be a confusing scenario, a dedicated website has been launched providing further information.
“Our goal is to ensure that the canvass process is as smooth and transparent as possible, particularly in light of the issues with the vendor and the mail-in ballots,” remarked Jim DeMarinis, Administrator of the Maryland State Board of Elections, during the meeting.
Voters wishing to submit their ballots ahead of Election Day have several options: they can use drop boxes, early voting centers, local election offices, or mail their ballots, provided they are postmarked by June 23. Additionally, mail-in ballots can be delivered at polling locations on Election Day itself.
Early voting is set to commence on Thursday, running until June 18, with Maryland’s primary election scheduled for June 23.
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