NOTE: The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus shared the following press release:
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland House Minority Leader Jason Buckel and House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy are seeking clarification from the Maryland State Board of Elections regarding how incorrectly issued mail-in ballots will be handled during the 2026 Primary Election.
In a June 1 letter to State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis, the lawmakers cited reports that thousands of Maryland voters were mailed ballots for the wrong political party. While corrected replacement ballots were later sent with instructions to discard the original ballots, Buckel and Pippy expressed concern that some voters may have already returned the incorrect ballots before receiving replacements.
The lawmakers referenced comments attributed to DeMarinis in The Baltimore Sun indicating confidence that incorrect ballots would not be cast because of the board’s extensive communication efforts with voters.
Buckel and Pippy asked the State Board of Elections to clarify the process used to review mail-in ballots and ensure that votes cast on incorrect ballots are not counted.
The letter specifically asks how election officials would handle a situation in which a registered Republican voter submitted a Democratic ballot but did not return the corrected ballot.
“We understand this is a busy time for the Board of Elections, as the review of mail-in ballots begins today,” the lawmakers wrote. “But, as we know you will agree, it is imperative to our democracy that our citizens have confidence in the transparency and integrity of our elections.”
Buckel and Pippy requested a timely response from election officials as mail-in ballot canvassing begins across Maryland.
