Maryland State Board of Elections and Baltimore City Board of Elections Address Vote Discrepancy

Baltimore, MD News (5/22/2024) – The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE), in collaboration with the Baltimore City Board of Elections, has provided an update on a recently identified vote discrepancy from the Baltimore City election. The discrepancy, which was discovered during the post-election verification process, involved an overreporting of 584 ballots on election night, affecting ten precincts.

The discrepancy was attributed to two main issues: the non-uploading of election results from three ballot scanners and the duplication of election night results from five precincts. The SBE has confirmed that while these issues have been identified and rectified, they will continue their post-election audit procedures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the final vote counts before certification.

In a joint statement, the SBE emphasized the importance of transparency and accuracy in the electoral process, stating that their verification processes are functioning as intended. The boards reassured voters that the current audit process effectively identifies and corrects any discrepancies, ensuring the accurate tallying of all votes cast.

Post-Election Audits in Maryland

To uphold the integrity of election results, Maryland employs a multi-level audit process that includes several stages of verification and reporting. The initial election night results, which are considered unofficial, are posted on the State Board’s website. These results are then subject to a 100 percent verification audit to confirm their accuracy.

This verification involves uploading the results to a certified internal network and cross-referencing them with the unofficial results and log reports. Any detected discrepancies trigger an immediate investigation. Following this, an independent third-party firm conducts a separate automated audit using specialized software to tabulate ballot images and verify the vote totals. These independent results are then compared with the official voting system results to ensure consistency.

Since May 15, after the unofficial results were posted, local boards of elections have been conducting these post-election verification audits. During this process, the Baltimore City results showed a mismatch between the unofficial election night totals and the verified internal reporting system. This discovery prompted an investigation, which determined the overreporting was due to human error. The issue has since been resolved.

Ensuring Accuracy and Transparency

The SBE’s ability to swiftly identify and address the discrepancy underscores the effectiveness of Maryland’s post-election result verification and audit procedures. These processes are designed to maximize accuracy and minimize human error, using securely stored ballot images rather than physical ballots to avoid any chain of custody issues.

Maryland’s commitment to transparency in the audit process aims to dispel any potential misinformation and reinforce public confidence in the electoral system. The results of these audits are publicly available on the SBE’s website, further ensuring openness and accountability.

The Maryland State Board of Elections and the Baltimore City Board of Elections remain confident that all votes have been accurately canvassed and tabulated. Voters can be assured that the integrity of their votes is maintained, as confirmed by the rigorous post-election audit processes in place.

By continuously reviewing and improving internal procedures and best practices, especially ahead of the General Election, the SBE is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of election integrity and voter confidence in Maryland.

Story by multiple RFHC contributors.