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Bill

SB 236

Election Law - Certification of Election-Supporting Technology - Regulations, Review, and Evaluation

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Cheryl Kagan

SB 236 requires Maryland to establish certification and regulatory review standards for election-supporting technology before deployment in state elections.

Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 236

Legislative bill overview

SB 236 establishes a certification and regulatory framework for election-supporting technology used in Maryland elections. The bill requires independent review and evaluation of voting systems and related election technology before deployment, with ongoing oversight mechanisms to ensure security and reliability.

Why is this important

Election technology directly affects voting access, ballot security, and public confidence in election integrity. A certification system provides voters assurance that technology used in their elections meets established security and accuracy standards, while helping election officials select reliable systems for their jurisdictions.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Certification and testing requirements may increase expenses for county election boards, raising questions about who bears these costs and whether smaller jurisdictions can afford compliance
  • Technology pace vs. regulation: Rapid innovation in election technology may outpace regulatory review timelines, potentially delaying beneficial system upgrades or creating gaps in coverage for emerging technologies
  • Certification authority scope: Disagreement may arise over whether Maryland should conduct its own certifications or defer to federal standards (EAC), affecting state autonomy and consistency with other states

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

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