2021 Top Issues: Elections Fairness and Funding

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson breakdown MACo's 2021 Legislative Initiative to ensure fair funding and proper local input for elections in Maryland.As previously reported on Conduit Street, MACo’s Legislative Committee voted at the September 16, 2020 meeting to adopt the Association’s four priorities for the 2021 Maryland General Assembly Session. MACo will prioritize county budget security, elections, broadband access, and public health support in the 2021 session.ENSURE FUNDING FAIRNESS AND COUNTY ROLE IN ELECTIONSThe State Board of Elections (SBE) often makes unilateral decisions that place substantial administrative and cost burdens onto local Boards of Elections, whose operations are supported by county funding. Without proper resources to offset substantial costs for equipment purchases/leases, equipment storage and transportation, staff compensation and training, and other overhead, these state-mandated expenditures represent significant unfunded mandates on county governments.MACo advocates to codify the 20-year precedent that voting machines and related systems be a split funding responsibility between the State and counties, require the State to fund salary increases for its employees overseeing elections at the local level, and ensure proper local input for large contract/procurement decisions that oblige county funds.Each year MACo adopts a slate of top legislative initiatives, typically representing the wide swath of services counties deliver to Maryland residents. The Initiatives Subcommittee meets through the summer to refine and focus a list of dozens of proposed initiatives into no more than four as required by the Association’s bylaws. The slate is then presented to the Legislative Committee for adoption.MACo has made the podcast available through all major platforms by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast.You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.Useful LinksPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: MACo Announces 2021 Legislative InitiativesPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Get Your Ballot by Mail (Not Email) to Save Time and MoneyPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Board OKs MACo’s Request for Additional State Funding for Mail-In Ballot ApplicationsSenator Kagan’s Letter to the State Board of Elections (August 14, 2020)Previous Conduit Street Coverage: State to Provide More Ballot Drop Boxes, Allow for Earlier Canvassing of Mail-In BallotsPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: MACo on General Election: State Should Pay Extra Ballot Costs