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SB 996

Dependent Children

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ana Maria Rodriguez

Allows Maryland counties to adopt approval voting for county elections by local law, with required voter education and State Board rules to govern implementation.

Died in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
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Bill Summary · SB 996

SB 996 — Election Law — Approval Voting — Authorization for County Elections

Status: First Reading, Senate Rules
Introduced: Jan 29, 2025 (bill text includes an effective date of June 1, 2025)
Primary sponsor(s) (from document): Senator McKay; other listed sponsors include Wakai and Chang.
Statute amended: Article — Election Law, §8–101 (Maryland Annotated Code)

Purpose / Intent

SB 996 authorizes Maryland counties to adopt approval voting for county elections. The bill is intended to give local governments a legal pathway to use an alternative voting method in which voters may endorse any number of candidates and the candidate with the most endorsements wins. The measure also requires local voter education and grants the State Board authority to adopt implementing regulations.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new subsection to §8–101 that:
    • Defines “approval voting” as a method in which voters may choose any number of candidates and the candidate chosen most often is elected.
    • Permits the governing body of a county, by local law, to adopt approval voting for elections for county executive and county legislative branch offices.
    • Requires any local law adopting approval voting to provide for an educational campaign explaining how to vote under that method.
    • Authorizes the State Board of Elections to adopt regulations governing the administration of elections conducted using approval voting.
  • Amendatory approach: inserts the new subsection into existing uniform election law language.
  • Effective date specified in the bill text: June 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • County governing bodies: can choose (but are not required) to adopt approval voting by passing local law.
  • County election officials and local boards of elections: would implement new ballot formats, counting procedures, and public education as required.
  • State Board of Elections: tasked with issuing regulations and guidance for administration of approval-voting elections.
  • Voters and candidates in counties that opt in: voting behavior, campaign strategy, and ballot outcomes could change where approval voting is used.
  • Vendors and election technology providers: potential need to adapt ballot design and tabulation software.

Practical and procedural implications

  • Adoption is permissive (county-level choice), so the law could create a patchwork of voting methods across the State.
  • Counties must run an educational campaign before or as they implement approval voting, which creates administrative and outreach costs.
  • The State Board’s regulations will determine detailed operational matters (ballot design, vote counting, audit procedures).
  • Implementation will require changes to ballots, pollworker training, tabulation systems, and public information materials.

Potential impacts (neutral framing)

  • Electoral dynamics: approval voting allows voters to support multiple candidates, which can reduce vote-splitting and may favor broadly acceptable/consensus candidates rather than strictly plurality winners.
  • Administrative costs: short‑term costs for technology updates and voter education; long‑term costs depend on scale and county uptake.
  • Legal/regulatory coordination: State Board regulations will be important to ensure consistency in administration and audits.

This summary focuses on the election-law portion of the provided document (authorization of approval voting for counties).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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