Maryland will replace its statewide voting system after the Board of Public Works approved a new contract with Election Systems & Software (ES&S) to modernize election technology ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
The procurement authorizes a five-year base contract valued at approximately $84.9 million, with two optional two-year renewals that could bring the total value to $109.4 million through 2031.
The project includes acquisition, deployment, implementation, and ongoing support for a new statewide voting system designed to improve election security, accessibility, and reliability while meeting applicable federal and State requirements.
According to procurement documents, Maryland’s current voting system has been in service for more than a decade, and several key components have reached the end of their manufacturing lifecycle. Election officials told the Board that replacement parts have become increasingly difficult to obtain, warranty support has become more limited, and maintaining the existing equipment is expected to become more costly over time.
The contract was awarded following a competitive sealed proposal process. Three vendors submitted proposals that were evaluated using equal weighting for technical and financial criteria. ES&S received the highest overall ranking based on its technical proposal, experience supporting Maryland election operations, successful completion of on-site testing, and ability to meet the State’s functional requirements.
Funding for the contract will be shared equally between the State’s General Fund and county funds that support Maryland’s local boards of elections. As a result, counties will share in the cost of replacing the statewide voting system through the longstanding State-local funding partnership for election administration.
Working with the State Board of Elections, MACo secured multiple financing options to help counties manage their share of the equipment costs. Counties may pay in full, finance the purchase over three years through SBE, or spread payments over five years through the State Treasurer’s Office, providing flexibility to align the purchase with local budget needs.
Throughout the procurement process, several election advocacy organizations urged the Board to delay approval, raising concerns about future certification requirements for portions of the system needed for the 2030 election cycle.
State Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis responded that the system being procured is federally and state-certified for Maryland’s current requirements and said future certification requirements are addressed through the contract’s implementation schedule.
The new voting system is expected to be deployed in time to support Maryland’s administration of the 2028 presidential election.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
