Annapolis, MD – April 16, 2025 — A recent ruling from the U.S. District Court has sparked renewed calls for accountability and transparency in Maryland’s election system. The court determined that the Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by obstructing access to public voter registration data and suppressing citizen-led investigations into voter roll accuracy.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in January 2024 by the nonprofit legal group Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE) on behalf of Maryland citizens Katherine Sullivan and David Morsberger, members of the grassroots organization SecureTheVoteMD. The lawsuit challenged SBE’s attempts to block public access to voter data—efforts that included issuing a regulation forbidding the use of that data to identify and address irregularities in the voter rolls, including duplicates, deceased individuals, and non-residents.
On March 4, 2025, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, declaring the state’s actions unlawful and in violation of federal transparency requirements.
In response, the Maryland House Republican Caucus issued a formal letter to Governor Wes Moore on March 19, demanding answers and clarity on what measures the administration will take to uphold the court’s decision and restore transparency in Maryland’s electoral processes. Despite the letter, no response has been issued by the Governor’s office to date.
“The finding that our State Board of Elections violated federal law and suppressed efforts to investigate the accuracy of our voter rolls is incredibly troubling,” said House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy. “This is a time for leadership and the Governor needs to weigh in.”
Katherine Sullivan, one of the successful plaintiffs, expressed her gratitude in a letter to the Caucus, thanking lawmakers for their support:
“Your letter not only raised critical questions about the state’s actions but also demonstrated clear and courageous leadership in standing up for transparency and accountability in Maryland’s elections,” wrote Sullivan. “On behalf of SecureTheVoteMD and the many Marylanders dedicated to protecting election integrity, thank you for your continued support and advocacy.”
The plaintiffs’ investigation had revealed inconsistencies in Maryland’s voter rolls and prompted citizen concern over election integrity. In retaliation, the SBE not only blocked access to state records but also limited the use of voter data for oversight—an act now confirmed to be in violation of the NVRA.
Chief Deputy Minority Whip Wayne Hartman emphasized the need for urgent attention to the issue, stating, “Much of our attention has been dominated by budgetary concerns this Session, but the integrity of our elections is just as important.”
As of mid-April, Governor Moore has not issued any public comment or commitment to implementing safeguards in light of the ruling, leaving questions of accountability and reform unanswered.
Statement from the Maryland House Republican Caucus:
MARYLAND HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2025
CONTACT: Carrie Simons-Sparrow, carrie.simons-sparrow@mlis.state.md.us
House Republicans Call on Governor to Take Action on Ruling Against State Board of Elections
Annapolis, MD – House Republicans today called on Governor Wes Moore to take action regarding the U.S. District Court ruling that the State Board of Elections (SBE) violated federal law by failing to comply with the National Voter Registration Act and unlawfully suppressed efforts to research abnormalities in Maryland’s voting records. A March 19 letter sent to the Governor from the Caucus included questions that have yet to be answered.
“I appreciate that the Governor has been focused on other issues, but the integrity of our elections is critical to our democracy,” said House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy. “The finding that our State Board of Elections violated federal law and suppressed efforts to investigate the accuracy of our voter rolls is incredibly troubling. This is a time for leadership and the Governor needs to weigh in.”
In January 2024, Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE) sued the state challenging an SBE regulation that stopped citizens from conducting investigations into whether Maryland was purging voter rolls of non-residents, the deceased, and duplicate registrations to maintain accurate and current voter registration records. The citizens’ research revealed numerous inconsistencies in voting records, and they voiced their concerns to the SBE. In response, SBE issued a new regulation prohibiting the use of voter data for investigations and blocked access to information on state records of voter history. On March 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court ruled that the SBE’s actions violated federal law.
On March 19, the House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Moore, asking several questions related to what, if any, actions his administration will take in reaction to the ruling and what measures his administration would take to “ensure transparency and safeguard the accuracy and accessibility of voter registration records and processes in Maryland.” There has been no response to the letter to date, and it appears that the Governor has made no public comment regarding the ruling.
“Much of our attention has been dominated by budgetary concerns this Session, but the integrity of our elections is just as important,” said Chief Deputy Minority Whip Wayne Hartman. “I hope Governor Moore can give this matter the attention it deserves and respond to our concerns soon.”
