11.24.25 By Kate Sullivan Secure the Vote Maryland
Baltimore County, Maryland -Across Maryland, communication between Republican Central Committees and their appointed Board of Elections (BOE) members is inconsistent and, in many cases, entirely absent. One county—Baltimore County—stands out for having the strongest accountability framework on paper: its bylaws require semi-annual reporting from Republican BOE members directly to the Republican Central Committee.
This policy, outlined in Baltimore County Code §Article I, Section 2, paragraph K, represents precisely the type of structured oversight and communication that should exist statewide.
However, while Baltimore County has the right mandate, it has not enforced it. Despite serving for more than three years, the current Republican BOE members have not provided a single quarterly report to the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee. This failure reveals a critical truth: even the best-written rules are meaningless without active enforcement and ongoing expectations from party leadership.
Baltimore County’s unrealized model highlights the broader problem across the state. Most counties lack formal reporting requirements altogether. Others rely on occasional updates from the Election Director—helpful but insufficient, and not a substitute for direct reporting from the party’s own appointees. Without regular dialogue, Republican Central Committees lose visibility into the election process, while BOE members lose guidance, accountability, and connection to the party that appointed them.
This breakdown of communication has tangible consequences. When BOE members are disengaged or disconnected:
- Issues such as election-judge parity may go unaddressed,
- Voter list maintenance concerns may be overlooked, and
- Compliance with key election-related directives may not be monitored,
all while Republican Central Committees remain in the dark about local election operations.
Baltimore County’s bylaws were designed to prevent exactly this scenario—yet the lack of enforcement has allowed it to happen anyway. This should serve as a wake-up call not only for Baltimore County but for every Central Committee in Maryland. A requirement is only as strong as the commitment to uphold it.
A Path Forward for Every County
Regardless of whether local bylaws mandate it, every Republican Central Committee in Maryland has both the authority and the responsibility to establish consistent communication with its BOE appointees. This can be implemented immediately and without legislative change.
CALL TO ACTION
Every Republican Central Committee in Maryland should:
- Reach out now to their appointed BOE members,
- Formally require semi-annual briefings, regardless of whether bylaws exist, and
- Add BOE reporting as a standing agenda item at every meeting.
Baltimore County created the right policy but failed to enforce it. Other counties should learn from this example—not by replicating the lapse, but by adopting and enforcing the standard Baltimore County envisioned.
Accountability begins with connection—and it’s time to restore both across Maryland.
