URGENT UPDATE: The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Maryland GOP have just filed a lawsuit against state election officials, alleging that voter registration numbers in Maryland are “impossibly high.” The suit, filed on Friday, follows a similar action by the Department of Justice earlier this week.
The lawsuit claims that both Howard County and Montgomery County reported more registered voters than the actual number of citizens over the age of 18. Alarmingly, ten additional counties have voter registration rates exceeding 95%, surpassing the statewide average. This discrepancy raises serious concerns about the integrity of Maryland’s voter registration process.
Named in the complaint are Jared DeMarinis, the State Administrator of Elections, along with four members of the Board of Elections and election officials from the two counties. As of now, Maryland election officials have not responded to requests for comment.
The RNC, alongside its legal team, previously sent a letter to DeMarinis in July, demanding access to the state’s voter registration list and alleging violations of federal law. The lawsuit is filed under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which mandates states to make “reasonable efforts to remove the names of ineligible voters” from official rolls.
According to the lawsuit, the inflated registration numbers jeopardize “campaign-related activities” and “get-out-the-vote efforts,” ultimately hindering the RNC’s ability to effectively mobilize voters. The complaint also references a 2023 audit that indicated the State Board of Elections’ review of voter registration data was “inadequate,” citing the presence of deceased or ineligible voters on the rolls.
This legal action comes shortly after the Department of Justice announced similar lawsuits against DeMarinis and five other states for failing to provide requested voter registration rolls.
“Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance,” stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi. She emphasized that the DOJ will continue to pursue proactive election integrity litigation until states adhere to fundamental election safeguards.
As tensions rise over voter registration practices, all eyes will be on Maryland to see how officials respond to the allegations and what impact this lawsuit may have on upcoming elections.
For further updates, stay tuned as this story develops. Have a news tip? Contact Brendan Nordstrom at [email protected] or at 443-900-1353.
