Public administration

Maryland's State Board of Elections has certified ballots for the 2026 general election, posting them online for public review. Registered voters have until the close of business on September 3 to seek judicial review of the certified ballots. Once that review period ends, the board will make any necessary changes before starting the ballot printing process.

State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis called certification the first step in the electoral process and urged voters to make a plan ahead of Election Day. Maryland offers three voting methods: mail-in ballot, in-person early voting, or in-person voting on Election Day, which falls on November 3, 2026. The board is encouraging unregistered residents to sign up through its online system, which registered voters can also use to update party affiliation, name, or address.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to oppose draft state legislation, tentatively called the Solano Maritime and Manufacturing Act, that would streamline zoning and environmental review for shipbuilding projects in Collinsville. Supervisors said they received the draft only a day before Tuesday's meeting and objected to being rushed ahead of Friday's bill-introduction deadline for the current legislative session. The board instead directed staff to continue discussions, hoping to push any proposal to the next session in December 2026.

The legislation, backed in comments by Assemblywoman Lori Wilson and State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, is tied to renewed interest in a Collinsville shipyard after California Forever's plans lost a bid to Texas-bound defense firm Saronic. Supporters argue it would let the county compete for federal shipbuilding investment without authorizing California Forever's broader planned city. Critics, including many residents at the hearing, worry it could bypass normal zoning and environmental safeguards. No formal bill author has been named, and it remains unclear whether the board's opposition will affect the state's timeline.