What is the Maryland Voting Rights Act (MDVRA)?

Rather than voters having to prove that new election laws are discriminatory, jurisdictions that have a history of voter discrimination would need to have election changes “precleared” by the Maryland Attorney General or a court to show the new systems will not disadvantage minority voters.

The MDVRA provides a framework to uncover and dissipate voter dilution and barriers that deny voting opportunities in a way that is cost-effective for both voters and local governments in Maryland.

According to most recent census data, Maryland is the most diverse state on the East Coast, and home to the top three most diverse cities in the United States.  The MDVRA requires local governments to ensure that non-English speakers are not left behind in the voting process. This section requires that in a locality with a population of 2 percent or more in a language minority, the local government or board of elections will provide voting materials in that language.

The MDVRA provides Marylanders with a right to sue to challenge voter intimidation, deception, or obstruction. Strengthening this right is more important now than ever given recent efforts by bad actors to stoke fear, spread disinformation, and block access to the ballot box.

The MDVRA updates existing law to ensure local governments are required to notify voters of important changes in advance to reduce confusion and facilitate public input, and creates a state wide database of election information to promote best practices and enforcement.