Maryland officials prepare for 2026 elections amid legal challenges

Maryland election officials are navigating legal and operational challenges ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has participated in multistate legal actions to counter federal efforts regarding state election data. Notably, a federal judge in Maryland dismissed a Department of Justice lawsuit seeking unredacted voter registration files, which include sensitive information such as dates of birth and partial Social Security numbers.

In related legal developments, a federal court in Massachusetts blocked a Trump administration executive order that aimed to create a national list of eligible voters and instruct the U.S. Postal Service to withhold mail ballots from those not on the list, ruling the order unconstitutional for the 2026 cycle.

At the MACo Summer Conference, Maryland election administrators, including State Administrator Jared DeMarinis and Baltimore County Elections Director Ruie LaVoie, discussed preparations for upcoming elections. Key focus areas include voter roll maintenance, staffing, polling place accessibility, security, and combating misinformation.

These administrative efforts coincide with a Gallup-Charles F. Kettering Foundation poll indicating widespread public concern. The survey found that 73% of Americans are worried about aspects of the election process, with significant percentages expressing fear regarding political pressure on officials, voter intimidation, and gerrymandering.