At the MACo Winter Conference, state and county leaders examined the growing strain on local election systems as Maryland heads into the 2026 cycle. The discussion acknowledged Maryland’s strong track record on voter access and election security, while focusing on the operational pressure counties and local boards of elections face to maintain that standard year after year.
State Senator Cheryl Kagan, Vice Chair of the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, which oversees election law, served as a participating moderator during “Elections at Work — Local Leadership, Modern Challenges,” engaging directly with panelists and audience members on both policy and on-the-ground realities.
Panel speakers included:
- Ruie Lavoie, Director, Baltimore County Board of Elections
- Alysoun McLaughlin, Director, Election Resilience Lab, University of Maryland
Ruie Lavoie opened with a local perspective, outlining the operational pressures that local boards of elections face each cycle.
Recruiting and retaining election judges remains difficult. Training requirements continue to grow. Public scrutiny has intensified. Lavoie also highlighted the rising number of threats and harassment directed at election staff, noting that these pressures affect morale, retention, and the ability to build reliable teams for early voting and Election Day.
Alysoun McLaughlin addressed the broader risk environment surrounding elections. She highlighted misinformation, deepfakes, and coordinated disinformation campaigns that increase pressure on local election offices and force counties to devote more time and resources to cybersecurity, communications, and staff preparedness.
Senator Kagan contributed throughout the discussion, tying county experiences to ongoing legislative debates and oversight. She emphasized the importance of strong state–local coordination to ensure Maryland’s elections run smoothly.
The conversation stayed focused on the operational reality for counties. Local boards oversee elections, and growing security risks, staffing challenges, and public pressure all fall first on the local level.
The session took place on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland.
More about MACo’s Winter Conference:
