MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally this week testified before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in support of SB 163 – Election Law – Ballots – Processing and Reporting Procedures with amendments. This bill would provide local boards of elections with necessary and reasonable flexibility to canvass mail-in ballots, avoiding administrative complications that could disrupt the timely certification of election results. MACo is working with the bill sponsor and Committee on technical amendments to clarify specified definitions and processes.

From the MACo testimony:

State law prohibits local boards from canvassing mail-in ballots until the Wednesday following an election. SB 163 would allow for canvassing of mail-in ballots up to eight days before election day. In addition, the bill prohibits local boards from tabulating mail-in ballots in advance of election day, which safeguards election integrity.

County governments have a vested interest in maintaining fair, open, and transparent
elections, and appreciate the bill sponsor’s technical amendments to clarify specified
definitions and processes.

More on MACo’s Advocacy:
Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2022 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.
Learn more about MACo’s 2022 Legislative Initiatives.
Read more General Assembly News on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.