It’s official: The Maryland State Board of Canvassers certified the results Thursday of last month’s primary election in state and federal races.
The certification was announced by State Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis at Thursday’s meeting of the State Board of Elections. The final results can be found here.
The final results held no surprises, with some races uncontested and others won by comfortable margins. In the U.S. House races, all the incumbents were easily renominated and will all face challengers in November. In the race for the only open seat, to replace longtime Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th), Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s), backed by Hoyer, easily defeated a field of two dozen Democrats to win the nomination. He will face Republican Chris Chaffee in the Nov. 3 general election for the seat. The state-run primary on June 23 featured only Republican and Democratic candidates. Other parties choose their nominees through party-run primaries or conventions.
DeMarinis said during the Board of Elections meeting that this year’s election marked the first time local boards of election used risk-limiting audits of ballots statewide. Those audits use statistical science to audit and confirm results reported by tabulators. It became effective last year due to the passage of Senate Bill 313 and House Bill 426.
“I thank the Board of Canvassers for their careful oversight of the certification process,” DeMarinis said in a statement. “This step of public certification and independent oversight ensures that every eligible vote is accounted for and that the public can have confidence in the integrity of our elections.”
The Board of Canvassers is made up of the state’s attorney general, the comptroller, the secretary of state, the state treasurer and the clerk of the Supreme Court of Maryland.