Maryland State Wire

With the legislative session in Maryland nearing its conclusion on April 7, Common Cause Maryland is urging state legislators to protect their electoral autonomy. This comes in response to a new executive order from President Donald Trump, which is seen as an attempt to override state and federal voting laws.

The federal SAVE Act, set for consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives this week, is one of the measures believed to restrict voting access for millions of Americans. Joanne Antoine, Executive Director of Common Cause Maryland, argued for prompt legislative action: “These aren’t the first federal attacks on our voting rights, and they certainly won’t be the last...we hope the legislature takes our freedom to vote seriously and acts accordingly.”

President Trump recently issued an executive order aiming to bring Maryland elections under greater federal control. This order introduces new requirements for voter identification, restricts absentee voting, and increases federal oversight of elections. Additionally, it threatens to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply, potentially affecting local election operations.

To counter these federal actions, Maryland legislators are considering bills such as the Maryland Voting Rights Act (MDVRA) and the Maryland Data Privacy Act. The MDVRA seeks to protect voting rights at the state level with provisions against practices like racial vote dilution and measures to aid voters with limited English proficiency.

Furthermore, the Maryland Data Privacy Act aims to prevent unauthorized access to municipal voter registration data by federal agencies like ICE. This legislation is particularly crucial in jurisdictions where noncitizens and minors are part of the voter rolls.

Common Cause Maryland continues to advocate for these legislative measures to safeguard the state's electoral integrity. More information about their efforts is available at commoncause.org/maryland.