Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations

SB 255, the "Voting Rights Act of 2026," prohibits local election methods in Maryland counties and municipal corporations that dilute or abridge voting rights for protected classes (defined as racial, color, or language minority groups, or combinations thereof). It establishes that a violation occurs if elections show "polarized voting" (where preferences differ between protected class voters and others) and the election method dilutes minority voting strength. The law requires courts to use federal Voting Rights Act enforcement standards to evaluate claims, focusing on election results and historical discrimination rather than intent. This applies only to local elections, not statewide races, and aims to ensure protected class voters can elect candidates of their choice.