At MACo’s Winter Conference, an expert panel detailed the latest election trends, recapped the 2022 election cycle, and explored innovative policies and new solutions to advance and promote free, fair, and secure elections.
An essential function of Maryland’s county governments is to fund and oversee elections — but times are changing. Modern trends in voter preference, new technology, supply shortages, difficulties recruiting and retaining election judges, new and evolving cyber threats, and defending against disinformation are top of mind for county leaders and local election officials.
At MACo’s Winter Conference, an expert panel discussed the latest election trends, recapped the 2022 election cycle, and explored innovative policies and new solutions to advance and promote free, fair, and secure elections.
State Senator Cheryl Kagan led the conversation and moderated an informative Q&A at the “Beyond the Ballot: The Evolution of Elections” session.
Panelists included:
- Alysoun McLaughlin, Montgomery County Board of Elections
- Matthew Weil, Executive Director, Democracy Program, Bipartisan Policy Center
- Nikki Charlson, Deputy Administrator, Maryland State Board of Elections
Alysoun McLaughlin provided a general overview of elections in Maryland and discussed issues and solutions to challenges like implementing new ways to vote, recruiting and retaining election judges, embracing new technology/policies, et cetera. Alysoun also discussed local election procedures and policies for mail-in ballots, ballot drop boxes, and web-delivered ballots.
Matthew Weil delivered a national landscape of voting-related policy, discussed new trends, and explained why lawmakers should always consult state and local election officials before enacting new election laws/policies.
Speaking on behalf of the Maryland State Board of Elections, Nikki Charlson closed the panel discussion by recapping the 2022 election cycle (the successes, challenges, and opportunities) and discussing current and upcoming election administration issues/SBE projects.
The session was on January 5, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD.
More about MACo’s Winter Conference: