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The Maryland State Board of Elections has launched a major upgrade to its campaign finance disclosure systems, designed to improve transparency, data accuracy and public access to information.
The Maryland Campaign Reporting Information System (MD-CRIS) and Business Contribution Disclosure System (BCDS) aim to streamline the way candidates, committees and businesses report their financial activities related to campaigns.
For Maryland voters, the new platforms promise quicker and more comprehensive access to campaign finance information, according to an announcement from the board.
“These new systems represent a significant step forward in strengthening Maryland’s framework for transparency, accountability and efficient campaign finance administration,” Jared DeMarinis, the board’s state administrator, said in the announcement.
These changes were made with both the public and campaign finance filers in mind, according to the release. The revamped systems are designed to improve the accuracy of financial disclosures and make it easier for the public to access this information. It is also expected to improve the efficiency of compliance oversight and the work of election staff.
The new systems offer several features to enhance public trust and accountability. They provide real-time visibility into financial transactions reported by candidates and committees. The public will have full access to all filed data through a dedicated portal, and searches will be faster thanks to improved database technology.
For those filing campaign finance reports, the new systems aim to improve efficiency and data quality. Guided data entry will help ensure accuracy and prevent incomplete filings. Automated calculations are expected to reduce reporting errors and manual work.
The user experience has also been streamlined, with a clear and intuitive filing process. Committee registration will be simplified with modern guided steps.
From a technical and administrative perspective, the new systems come with several advantages. They include automated compliance checks and business rules to support auditing. Notifications have been standardized, and self-service tools are available to reduce the administrative workload. The systems also feature a fast, modern processing architecture.
“Maryland’s commitment to innovation in election administration continues to ensure voters have confidence in our democratic process,” DeMarinis said in the announcement. “These platforms are built not only to serve campaigns and committees, but to strengthen the public’s trust in the integrity and transparency of our elections.”
For more details on the new systems, visit elections.maryland.gov.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@usatodayco.com with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.