Overview
- A vendor printing error discovered in late May forced Maryland to send more than 437,000 replacement mail‑in ballots after some voters received ballots that did not match their party registration.
- Maryland opened an eight‑day early voting window that runs June 11–18 and New York City begins early voting June 13–21 ahead of primary day on June 23.
- The State Board of Elections approved a process where replacement ballots will be the primary ballots counted and original mail‑ins will only be counted if officials can verify the original was correct and no replacement was returned, with canvassing of originals delayed until July 6.
- County officials say replacement ballots use unique bar codes and tracking to prevent double‑counting and advise voters who received replacements to return those ballots by mail, drop box, or at early voting sites to avoid provisional ballots.
- Maryland Senate Republicans have demanded emergency legislative hearings into the vendor error, a move that could prolong oversight and delay certification while officials manage voter confusion and the potential impact on turnout in close primaries.