UMVA has learned that former President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm over Maryland’s mail-in ballot printing error, alleging ties to "corrupt" Democratic Governor Wes Moore and demanding a Justice Department investigation under acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
In a scathing post on Truth Social, Trump claimed, "In Maryland, they sent out 500,000 Illegal Mail-In Ballots, and they got caught!" He accused Governor Moore of orchestrating the error to ensure Democratic victories, stating, "He allowed this to happen in order to make sure that Democrats win."
Maryland election officials have clarified that the issue stemmed from a vendor error affecting voters who received ballots before May 14. They emphasized that all impacted voters would receive replacements to uphold the integrity of the election process. State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis refuted Trump’s claims of "illegal" ballots, explaining that the problem involved voters receiving the wrong party ballots.
The vendor, Taylor Print & Visual Impressions (TPVI), Inc., acknowledged the mistake and assured that corrected ballots would be mailed by May 29, 2026. Voters were instructed to destroy the original ballots and use only the replacements. However, details about the safeguards to prevent duplicate voting remain unclear.
Trump’s allegations have reignited Republican calls for a federal review of Maryland’s voter rolls. RNC Chair Joe Gruters told reporters, "Marylanders deserve answers after this unacceptable failure," and announced expanded efforts to monitor the election process through voter hotlines, legal oversight, and education.
As Maryland’s primary election approaches on June 23, tensions are high. Voters requesting mail-in ballots must do so by June 16, according to the State Board of Elections. The fallout from this error continues to unfold, with both sides demanding transparency and accountability.
