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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland creates task force to evaluate approval voting and ranked-choice voting for future elections
Last action · February 10, 2026: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Mike McKay
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland establishes a dedicated task force to study the implementation, costs, and legal requirements of adopting and across the state. The task force must deliver its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2027.
The measure establishes a formal investigative body composed of lawmakers, election officials, and policy experts to examine how alternative voting methods would affect state election infrastructure, ballot design, and voter participation before any potential legislative changes are introduced.
- Approval voting allows voters to cast votes for any number of candidates they support, while ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. context
- The General Assembly of Maryland is the state legislature responsible for enacting laws and establishing temporary legislative study panels. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State Board of Elections
The agency is required to provide staff support for the task force and will be evaluated for potential administrative and fiscal impacts.
Local boards of elections
The boards are subject to evaluation regarding potential administrative impacts on ballot design, certification, tabulation, and voting equipment.
Task Force members
Appointed members serve without compensation but are entitled to travel expense reimbursement.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 10, 2026SenateHearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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