Officials increase estimate, say computer glitch affects 80,000 voters
State elections officials are now saying a computer glitch affected 80,000 voters who tried to change their voter registration addresses or party affiliation through the Motor Vehicle Administration website or at kiosks since April 2017. The latest number is a significant increase from over the weekend when officials said 18,700 voters were affected by the glitch. The voters who changed their addresses or party affiliation online will have to cast a provisional ballot in Tuesday’s primary election. Those ballots are scheduled to be counted on July 5—a delay that could roil Tuesday night’s election results. [Baltimore Sun]
Legislative leaders call for MVA administrator to resign
State Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore) and Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Montgomery) called for the immediate resignation of MVA Administrator Christine Nizer on Monday in response to the voter registration issues resulting from the computer glitch. They also criticized Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration for initially describing the issue over the weekend as a “clerical error” and “conspiracy theory” before the full scope of the problem was discovered. On Monday, Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said the “administration is obviously incredibly disappointed that this happened.” [Maryland Matters]
An analysis of fundraising in the at-large County Council race
Of the 33 Democrats vying for four at-large County Council seats in Tuesday’s primary, former journalist Evan Glass received the most donations from Montgomery County residents, followed by former Obama administration officials Ashwani Jain and Will Jawando. [Growing East County]
Supreme Court ruling could provide windfall to Maryland
The court’s 5-4 decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. enables states to collect sales tax from online retails that did not previously have to pay it. The General Assembly will have to pass a bill allowing the state to collect sales taxes from all online retailers and after that it could rake in hundreds of millions of dollars of previously uncollected tax revenue. [Baltimore Business Journal]
Sunny primary day expected
It’ll be a nice day to vote. The National Weather Service expects a sunny high around 80 degrees with a chance of showers at night and a low dropping to around 66.
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