STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

The conduct of voter registration and elections in Maryland is supervised by the Board, which directs, supports, monitors, and evaluates the activities of the boards of elections in each county and Baltimore City. To maximize the use of technology in election administration, the Board also oversees the upgrade and standardization of voting systems and election procedures statewide (Chapter 564, Acts of 2001).

151 West St., Annapolis, Maryland, October 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

All voters in Maryland use the same system to vote in person. For election day or early voting at the polls, voters use a touch-screen electronic (AccuVote-TS) system. Voters using this system touch the computer screen to make, change, and review selections, and to cast a ballot.

A paper-based optical scan system (AccuVote-OS or Model ES-2000) is used for absentee and provisional ballots. On these paper ballots, voters fill in ovals next to their selection for each office or ballot question. Scanning units at the local boards of elections read the ballot and tabulate the selections made by voters.

To regulate the financing of campaigns for State and county offices, the Board administers the Fair Election Practices Act (Code Election Law Article, secs. 13-101 through 13-604). In addition, the Board prepares and certifies ballots, administers petitions, and publishes statewide ballot questions before elections.

In odd-numbered years, the Board meets with the boards of elections from the counties and Baltimore City to instruct them, their employees, and counsel on their duties in the conduct of elections. The Board also administers the voter registration-by-mail program.

Registration and Election Laws of Maryland, which is for sale to the public, is published by the Board. Also available are primary and general election returns beginning with 1948. More recent returns are available on-line from the Board.

The Board consists of five members appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Each member must belong to a principal political party with neither party having more than three or less than two members. Each member appointed by the Governor has been named by the state central committee of the principal political party entitled to the appointment (Chapter 4, Acts of 2005; Code Election Law Article, sec. 2-101).

STATE ADMINISTRATOR OF ELECTIONS

Appointed by the State Board of Elections with Senate advice and consent, the State Administrator also serves as secretary to the Board of State Canvassers (Code Election Law Article, secs. 2-103, 11-501 through 11-503).

ADMINISTRATION

CANDIDACY & CAMPAIGN FINANCE DIVISION
The Candidacy and Campaign Finance Division formed in 1990. It oversees the manner in which candidates and their organizations collect, spend, and report funds as regulated by Maryland's campaign finance laws. Since 1999, all campaign finance reports must be submitted in electronic format (Chapter 473, Acts of 1999). The Division provides free electronic-filing software (ELECTrack) and technical assistance to campaign account treasurers. Data from financial reports are compiled into a master database and are available on the Internet.

ELECTION MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Organized in 1998, the Election Management Division prepares voting materials for both absentee and provisional ballots. To counties, it also provides election-related supplies, such as polling place signs and other items to make polling places accessible.

ELECTION REFORM DIVISION
Created in 2004, the Election Reform Division oversees the implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-252). That act requires states to improve the election process for voters and provides incentives for states to upgrade voting systems. The Division also helps local boards of elections recruit and train election judges and pollworkers.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY DIVISION
The Information Technology and Security Division began as the Computer Technology Division. It reformed as the Information Technology Division in 1999 and received its present name in 2006.

The Division provides technical support and expertise to the State Board and local boards of elections. It develops technology polices, provides network management, software upgrades, and website enhancements. The Division also monitors and revises security procedures for date back-up and storage, and protection from outside intrusion into electronic data centers. For local boards of elections, it conducts periodic security audits.

VOTER REGISTRATION & PETITIONS DIVISION
Formerly the Voter Registration Division, the Voter Registration and Petitions Division organized in 2004. The Division supervises and coordinates the voter registration activities of local boards of elections, and the reporting of voter registration information from other state agencies. As required by the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, the Division developed an automated, centralized, interactive statewide voter registration database (MDVOTERS), which was implemented in 2006. The Division also conducts voter registration volunteer training, and periodically compiles and makes available voter registration statistics.

Submission of voter petitions for referenda, establishing new political parties, and nominating independent or third party candidates to the ballot, are overseen by the Division.

VOTING SYSTEMS DIVISION
The Voting Systems Division began as Election Systems. In 1998, it was renamed Voting Systems, and, in 1999, reformed as Voting Systems and State Procurement. It returned to its present name in 2010. The Division oversees the operation of the statewide uniform computer voting system.

Voting units are tested by the Division which provides them to local boards of elections for use on election day. The Division also oversees the acquisition, upgrade, and use of electronic pollbooks at polling places to verify the names and addresses of eligible voters.

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