The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for May 19, 2026
Overshadowed by the stream of caustic gerrymandering and voter suppression bills nationwide, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed several pro-voter election bills May 12th. One bill includes the state’s first administrative rules for municipalities using ranked choice voting, and protections from election AI deep fakes.
WYPR reports that Governor Moore signed SB 0029 requiring ballots to be written in easily understood plain language, and SB 0940, which confirms the state’s mail-in ballot deadline up to 10 days after the election, if postmarked on or before election day. However, in a recent Mississippi case, the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority seems poised to abolish ballot grace periods.
Two bills addressing the use of artificial intelligence deep fakes in elections were signed as well. SB 0141 prohibits use of AI for misinformation or disinformation in elections. SB 0008 bans use of AI-based impersonation of individuals to cause harm, which would include in elections.
Rounding out this positive democracy news, SB 0848 codifies election administration rules for municipalities using ranked choice voting, employed by Takoma Park, Maryland since 2007, recently passed in Greenbelt, and under consideration in Berwyn Heights.
Forty-nine jurisdictions in 22 states use ranked choice voting, with Maine and Alaska using ranked choice in statewide elections.
We linked to all these bills at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
WYPR Public Radio – Slate of Maryland election reform bills set to go into law before November midterms
FairVote – Maryland passes first state law including ranked choice voting
Maryland General Assembly – Election Law – Petitions and Ballot Questions – Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures
Maryland General Assembly – SB 8 Criminal Law – Identity Fraud – Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake Representations
Maryland General Assembly – SB 141 Election Law – Election Misinformation, Election Disinformation, and Deepfakes
Maryland General Assembly – SB 848 Municipal Elections – Reporting of Information to the State Board of Elections – Requirements
Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center – How Ranked Choice Voting Works
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Voters Find Ranked Choice Voting Gives Them More Options, Eliminates Runoffs and is Easy to Use. So Why Have 17 States Banned It?
Groups Taking Action:
FairVote, Common Cause MD, Ranked Choice Voting Maryland
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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