Maryland precinct vote data not available in real-time as counties continue to count mail votes

Maryland was unable to release real-time precinct voting data during the primary because the system to distribute election results was put into place “at the very last minute,” according to state election officials, delaying a key data set that can help researchers verify vote totals. Precinct-level results are the most granular form of election data commonly available and a necessity for post-election forensic analysis of voter turnout and numbers of votes cast. This data is one important way that jurisdictions show that the election was properly conducted. Without precinct-level results, audits of electronic election data are impossible.