Signed by Governor Wes Moore

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that amends regulations for municipal elections, including provisions that authorize and codify ranked-choice voting for municipalities in Maryland.

Highlights:

• Amends deadlines for municipalities to submit certain information to the State Board of Elections for both regular and special elections, including (Sec. 1):

• Candidate qualifications;

• The date of special elections;

• The offices that will appear on a special election ballot;

• A list of each qualified candidate and their party affiliation, if applicable; and

• Information on how and where to vote in a municipal election.

• Defines “ranked-choice voting” as a method of casting votes in which voters rank candidates in order of preference and votes are counted in a manner that reflects voter preference (Sec. 1).

• Requires a municipality that conducts its elections using ranked-choice voting to submit its regulations for the counting of ranked-choice ballots to the State Board of Elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Elections to publish municipal regulations for ranked-choice voting on its website (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect June 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends regulations for municipal elections, including provisions that authorize and codify ranked-choice voting for municipalities in Maryland.

Highlights:

• Amends deadlines for municipalities to submit certain information to the State Board of Elections for both regular and special elections, including (Sec. 1):

• Candidate qualifications;

• The date of special elections;

• The offices that will appear on a special election ballot;

• A list of each qualified candidate and their party affiliation, if applicable; and

• Information on how and where to vote in a municipal election.

• Defines “ranked-choice voting” as a method of casting votes in which voters rank candidates in order of preference and votes are counted in a manner that reflects voter preference (Sec. 1).

• Requires a municipality that conducts its elections using ranked-choice voting to submit its regulations for the counting of ranked-choice ballots to the State Board of Elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Elections to publish municipal regulations for ranked-choice voting on its website (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect June 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text