Maryland Mail-In Ballot Controversy: Lt. Gov. Defends Against Trump’s Claims

Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller has addressed President Donald Trump’s demand for a Justice Department probe into a mail-in ballot error in the state, pushing back against accusations of corruption. Trump raised concerns after the Maryland State Board of Elections admitted an error led to some voters receiving incorrect ballots for the upcoming primary elections.

Election officials acknowledged a mistake by their vendor, Taylor Print & Visual Impressions (TPVI), Inc. Trump, blaming Democrat Gov. Wes Moore, accused him of deliberately influencing the election process to favor Democrats.

Trump’s Accusation

Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting that Gov. Moore allowed the ballot error to ensure Democratic victories. Lt. Gov. Miller countered these claims, emphasizing the independence of the elections board from the governor’s administration.

“The administration, they’re a separate body from us, the board of elections,” Miller said. “And it happens, sometimes. Ballots get mailed the wrong way. It happens almost in every election.”

While previous election administration errors have occurred in Maryland, there is no evidence confirming such issues arise every election cycle. The state plans to send new ballots to voters affected before May 14, aiming to prevent duplicate voting.

Handling the Ballot Error

Trump questioned the resolution of the issue without risking duplicate voting and criticized the distribution of incorrect ballots. He claimed many ballots were sent to Democrats, disadvantaging Republican candidates.

In response, Lt. Gov. Miller rejected suggestions of malicious intent. She attributed the error to the vendor, denying any corruption within the state:

“I don’t think it was in malice, in any bad way that this happened,” Miller said. “I think it was just error by the vendor.”

Jared DeMarinis, Maryland State Administrator of Elections, supported the state’s stance, refuting allegations of distributing “illegal” ballots.

Despite Trump’s call for a DOJ investigation, no public announcement has been made regarding such an initiative. Miller added that she has not received any details from the DOJ about potential investigations.

Reporter Background

Hannah Brennan, the article’s author, is a Digital Production Assistant on the Politics team. Her previous experience includes reporting for the Aspen Daily News, covering various political and community events. She completed her studies at the University of Colorado Boulder with high distinction, joining Fox News Digital in early 2026.