A new analysis of Maryland’s voter registration data reveals troubling signs of voter roll inflation, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of the state’s election system.
According to the chart, Maryland’s population stands at 6.18 million, with roughly 4.49 million eligible voters (citizens 18 and older). Yet the state’s voter registration totals nearly match this figure. Maryland reports 4.43 million registered voters, giving the state a near-universal registration rate of 98.8%. Even when considering only “active” registered voters, the rate remains at 92.6%—far above the national average of 69.1%.
Potential Roll Inflation
The disparity suggests that Maryland’s voter rolls may be significantly inflated. Using the national average as a benchmark, analysts estimate Maryland’s potential voter roll inflation could be as high as 1.04 million records when counting all voters, and about 763,000 records among active voters. Likely cause for the voter roll bloat include deceased individuals, duplicates, out-of-state movers, and even non-citizens—underscored by last week’s discovery of a non-citizen on the official rolls.
Why It Matters
Voter registration data is the backbone of election security. When rolls contain large numbers of outdated or inaccurate records, opportunities for error, mismanagement, or even exploitation increase. Federal law requires states to maintain accurate and up-to-date voter registration lists, yet Maryland’s figures stand out as unusually high compared to national norms.
A Call for Transparency and Maintenance
The near-universal registration rate has not only attracted scrutiny from election integrity advocates but also from federal authorities. As elections are considered critical infrastructure, the Department of Justice and watchdog groups argue that such discrepancies demand closer review of Maryland’s voter roll maintenance practices. Ensuring accurate rolls is not about restricting access—it is about protecting both the transparency and security of the electoral process.
Conclusion
Maryland’s unusually high voter registration rates—far outpacing the national average—raise questions that cannot be ignored. With over a million potentially inflated records, the state faces mounting pressure to strengthen list maintenance, improve transparency, and rebuild public trust in the accuracy of its voter registration system.
