Last week, a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge ruled that local boards of elections can start processing and tabulating mail-in ballots for the November election before the polls close on election day — which is essential for reporting timely results. As more voters opt to cast mail-in ballots, local boards require flexibility to meet critical certification deadlines and provide meaningful results after the polls close on election day. The ruling, issued by Judge James A.…

The Maryland State Board of Elections today voted to pursue legal action to allow local boards of elections to begin canvassing mail-in ballots before polls close on election day — which is essential for reporting timely results. As more voters opt to cast mail-in ballots, local boards require flexibility to meet critical certification deadlines and provide meaningful results after the polls close on election day. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Hogan vetoed emergency legislation…

Given delays in processing an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots, official results will follow after a full accounting of pending votes. That may take days or even weeks. But, as several county races are very close, an overview of Maryland’s election recount procedures seems relevant. Maryland law does not provide for automatic recounts, which some states require if the margin between the top two candidates is within specific parameters. Instead, Maryland law allows a losing candidate…