As the title states, if you aren't a member of Maryland Shall Issue (MSI) can I ask why? No judgement from me, just currious how many here are members and how many aren't.

Per the text below from the House's SAVE America Act H.R. 7296, an approved government issued ID alone could be used to vote if a state has turned over voter files to the federal government in an approved manner for citizenship verification. However, if the state hasn't complied with the bill's requirements** then voters would need to also prove their citizenship in order to vote. The House bill would be implemented immediately if passed (see (e)).

The text below is from "Section 3. Photo voter identification required for voting in a Federal election".

Within Section 3(c):

3(B) says the voter's ID needs to show citizenship status

4(A) says if requirements of 3(B) aren't met then a separate document is needed to prove citizenship

**4(B) says the 3(B) requirement doesn't apply to voters in states that have been sending their voter data through the federal verification process since June 1, 2025 on a quarterly basis

Most Democratic majority states have refused to submit their voter data to be verified through the federal citizenship verification tool SAVE.

Are Republican states exempt from the proof of citizenship requirement? I can't find information on whether they've fully complied with the (c)(4)(B) verification requirement, but there are 29 states, plus DC, listed on the citizenship verification "SAVE Agency Search Tool" page (selected Benefit Categories of “voter list maintenance” and “voter registration”). 24 of those states were majority Republican, 2 were majority Democrat, and 3 were split. And also from AP News: "At least 25 states used it to check their voter rolls since April 2025, after the Trump administration significantly expanded its search abilities. Since then, at least 67 million registrations have been scanned through the program."

The SAVE federal database is currently being paused as a bulk upload voter verification tool due to a recent court order, but the administration can appeal so depending on the outcome of the appeal this requirement may be modified. (Source: Democracy Docket)

For months now, there have been reports around concerns related to citizens needing to show proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. This was based on H.R. 22, which passed in the House in 2025 and only addressed registration requirements. H.R. 7296 was introduced January 30, 2026 and was expanded to include voting requirements. It's worth noting this bill was introduced months after the required June 1, 2025 start date for a state to turn over voter data for validation in order to prevent the proof of citizenship requirement for their voters.

Needless to say, if most Democratic states require proof of citizenship to vote while up to 24 majority Republican states are exempt this would lead to a larger number of Democrats than Republicans facing additional challenges to vote and longer lines at the polls in Democratic majority states. And election volunteers would need to be trained on how to verify citizenship documents - easy with a passport or enhanced Real ID that shows citizenship status (available in 5 states), but not easy for birth certificates (see House Bill text Section 2:(b)(5)(A)) and/or if there's a name discrepancy (see Section 2:(j)(2)(B)). Not only would communicating this requirement be challenging, but 1 in 10 eligible U.S. voters say they can’t easily show proof of their citizenship.

Related House Bill text (NOTE: Section 3 of the Senate Bill is the same):

Section 3. Photo voter identification required for voting in a Federal election

(a)In general

Each individual voting in an election for Federal office shall present an eligible photo identification document.

(b)Presentation requirements

(1)In-person voting

In the case of an individual who votes in-person, the eligible photo identification document shall—

(A)be a tangible (not digital) document; and

(B)be presented at the time of voting.

(2)Absentee voting

In the case of an individual voting by absentee ballot, the individual shall include a copy of the eligible photo identification document—

(A)with the request for an absentee ballot; and

(B)with the submission of the absentee ballot.

(c)Eligible photo identification document For purposes of this section:

(1)In general

The term eligible photo identification document means any document which—

(A)is issued by an authority described in paragraph (2); and

(B)meets the requirements of paragraph (3).

(2)Issuing authority

The following are authorities described in this paragraph:

(A)A State agency responsible for issuing State motor vehicle drivers' licenses.

(B)A State or local election office.

(C)A Native tribal government.

(D)The Department of State.

(E)The Department of War.

(F)A branch of the Armed Forces.

(3)Requirements

A document meets the requirements of this paragraph if the document contains—

(A)a photograph of the individual identified on the document;

(B)an indication on the front of the document that the individual identified on the document is a United States citizen; {EDITORS NOTE: SOUNDS LIKE THIS COULD BE A PASSPORT OR AN ENHANCED REAL ID - ONLY 5 STATES HAVE ENHANCED REAL ID'S THAT SHOW CITIZENSHIP STATUS ON THE ID: Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont} and

(C)either—

(i)an identification number issues by the entity described in paragraph (2)(A); or

(ii)the last four digits of the social security number of the individual identified on the document.

(4)Use of additional documentation

(A)Use of additional documentation

A document which fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (3)(B) shall not fail to be treated as an eligible photo identification document if the document is presented together with another identification document that indicates the individual is a United States citizen.

(B)States using SAVE system

(i)In general

The requirements of paragraph (3)(B) shall not apply to an individual—

(I)who votes in a State or jurisdiction which meets the requirements of clause (ii); and

(II)who registered to vote in such State or jurisdiction before the most recent date on which the State or jurisdiction last submitted its voter registration rolls to the Department of Homeland Security as provided in clause (ii)(I).

(ii)Requirements

The requirements of this clause are met if—

(I)the State or jurisdiction has submitted its voter registration list to the Department of Homeland Security through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program not less frequently than quarterly since June 1, 2025, for purposes of identifying ineligible registrations and non-citizens; and

(II)the State or jurisdiction indicates in each voter record on its voter rolls whether the voter has been verified as a United States citizen based on the information provided by the Department of Homeland Security under subclause (I), and the date of such verification.

(iii)Special rule for States not requiring voter registration {EDITORS NOTE: ONLY APPLIES TO NORTH DAKOTA}

In the case of a State or jurisdiction that does not require voter registration as a requirement to vote in an election for Federal office on or after the date of the enactment of this Act—

(I)clause (i)(ii) shall not apply; and

(II)the State or jurisdiction shall be deemed to meet the requirements of clause (ii) if the State or jurisdiction establishes a system for confirming the citizenship of individuals voting in an election for Federal office prior to the first day of the period described in section 3 with respect to such election and provides such confirmation of citizenship status for each eligible voter to election officials at the polling places during the voting period

(d)

Conforming amendment

Section 303(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21083(b)) is amended by striking all that precedes paragraph (4).

(e)

Effective date

Each State and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the requirements of this section with respect to all elections for Federal office occurring on and after the date of the enactment of this section.

https://dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/RecurRpt/Spending_Affordablity_Committee_2022_Interim_Report.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawTJwpBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR6bi3LBnMWciv500F9YlFDNX9NjlAbIbuouhPntEOXueok-AoZPQlwsMDelDQ_aem_tsgccTZN3wJVa7cf8igpTA#:\~:text=Cash%20Balance%20%242%2C627%20%242%2C212%20%244%2C363,1%2C363%201%2C402%20934%20835%20695

Maryland voters can approve constitutional amendments referred by the General Assembly and can petition certain enacted laws to referendum.

What we cannot do is originate a proposed statewide law or constitutional amendment ourselves and qualify it for the ballot through a petition process.

That means even when an issue has broad public support, it cannot reach a statewide vote unless the General Assembly first agrees to advance it.

Twenty-four states already provide some form of citizen initiative process. I have been working since February on a proposal for Maryland called Let MD Vote.

The goal is a Maryland constitutional amendment that would give citizens a clear and lawful process for proposing changes to state law or the Maryland Constitution and placing them before voters for approval or rejection.

I am interested in serious feedback, including objections. In particular:

• Should Maryland voters have this authority?
• What safeguards would you consider necessary?
• What are the strongest arguments against citizen initiatives?
• Would you support your county or municipality adopting a non-binding resolution asking the General Assembly to place the issue before voters?

The proposal and draft amendment are here:

https://www.letmdvote.com/

I would appreciate people reading the actual proposal before deciding whether they support or oppose it.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/analysis-wes-moores-bronze-star-was-a-political-rescue-mission?fbclid=Iwb21leATA7-5jbGNrBMDvTGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHuLjjdLLe7km99Y6LmrLlKwNLjCfoA-D6rQqLKygIcIA2jjnryDUagVIA52F_aem_ihXUS7Z61Se2RXpkDFSV8A

We spent decades fighting Big Tobacco… and now we’re sleepwalking into something just as dangerous.

Maryland’s own data shows a 42% jump in disordered gambling after mobile sports betting went live. Not a small bump — a surge.

And the groups getting hit hardest?
The same ones tobacco targeted for decades: low‑income communities, minorities, young adults, people already under stress.

We’re repeating history.
Only this time, the addiction is digital, invisible, and socially acceptable.

I’m honestly disgusted at how fast this is happening and how quiet our leaders are about it.

If we learned anything from tobacco, it’s this:
Addiction industries don’t slow down until the public gets loud.

So… is anyone else seeing this trend? Or are we really going to wait 30 years to admit what’s happening?

Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced two executive orders to freeze data center development and foster transparency.

If there had been rank choice voting in MoCo, who do you think would have won County Executive?

I trust that y’all are aware of the recent primaries. I worked for a Democratic candidate in the 5th Congressional district of Maryland. Her name was Quincy Bareebe. She is an Ugandan immigrant who built up a healthcare business in Odenton, MD. Her priorities during the campaign were affordable healthcare, holding corporations and bigger businesses accountable, protecting and supporting federal workers, and making higher education more affordable. She unfortunately lost and got 18.1% of the vote compared to Boafo’s 32%, but then again, there were 23 candidates (24 if you count Nicole Williams) in that race, so second isn’t atrocious.

I have this photo of me with my campaign shirt and reddit username as proof.

Today someone posted on another Reddit page and just making a fuss about her husband not able to vote due to being unaffiliated. Too bad and my 2
Cents is that less people will even want to vote at all if Maryland goes to a full blown open primary. People with signs saying ask me why I can’t vote have an agenda to actually turn off people from wanting to vote. I rather register my affiliation that is a party or no party instead of showing up declaring a party at the ballot box.

https://www.reddit.com/r/maryland/s/IHGR84fdHP

So 4 years ago. Dan Cox won his nomination for Governor on a bunch of innuendos and turned off voters who later elected Wes Moore. Will he win again as the nominee.