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State Board of Elections faces multiple IT overhauls and timing risks as FY26 reimbursable funds decline
Summary
At a Budget and Taxation Committee hearing, analysts reviewed the State Board of Elections’ fiscal 2026 allowance and three ongoing or planned major IT projects — a new poll book, a new voting system, and a voter registration system replacement — flagging schedule and staffing risks and proposing quarterly progress reports.
Yashadari Rai, the Department of Legislative Services analyst for elections, presented the fiscal 2026 budget analysis for the State Board of Elections (SBE) to the Budget and Taxation Committee, noting the SBE’s total fiscal 2026 allowance of about $54,000,000 and a $15,000,000 decrease driven chiefly by reduced reimbursable funds tied to major IT projects.
Why it matters: SBE has multiple major IT projects in various stages — a new statewide poll book modernization (SPM) project, a new voting system procurement delayed by new federal certification standards, a campaign finance system replacement (MDCRIS) under vendor transition, and a proposed new voter registration system to replace a 20‑year‑old registry. DLS expressed concern that overlapping implementation schedules could strain SBE staff and local boards.
Major projects and DLS concerns: DLS reported the revised SPM estimate at $38,100,000 (about 71.6% higher than the previously approved poll book project) and said SBE plans to issue a poll‑book RFP in March 2025 with implementation targeted for the 2028 election cycle; DLS asked SBE to disclose how much…
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