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Bill

HB 215

Elections - Ranked-Choice Voting in Contests for Presidential Nomination and Certification of Election-Supporting Technology

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kris Fair and 6 co-sponsors

Maryland bill establishes ranked-choice voting for presidential nominations and requires certification of election technology systems.

Hearing 1/28 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 215

Legislative bill overview

HB 215 would implement ranked-choice voting (RCV) for Maryland's presidential nomination contests and establish a certification process for election-supporting technology. Under RCV, voters rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate achieves a majority in the first round, votes are redistributed based on voters' next choices until a winner emerges. The bill also creates requirements for verifying and certifying any technology used to support election administration.

Why is this important

Presidential nomination contests significantly influence which candidates advance to general elections, and changing the voting method could alter which candidates gain momentum and delegate support. Establishing technology certification standards addresses legitimate concerns about election integrity and security by ensuring that any systems used in elections meet vetted standards before deployment.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation complexity: RCV requires voter education, new ballot designs, and updated counting procedures; costs and operational challenges could be substantial, and voter confusion during transition periods may occur
  • Impact on candidate viability: RCV can alter outcomes by allowing lower-preference candidates to accumulate support; this could benefit or disadvantage specific political candidates or movements differently than current plurality voting
  • Technology certification scope and cost: Unclear which entities bear certification costs, what standards apply, and whether certification requirements could create barriers to ballot access or innovation in election administration

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

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