ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 22 (DC Times Online) — Maryland election officials removed Ian Andre Roberts from the state’s voter rolls on June 2, according to records cited by The Washington Times, after the case drew renewed criticism from Republican lawmakers in Annapolis and Washington.
Republican Maryland Delegate Matt Morgan, who chairs the Maryland House Freedom Caucus, said the episode showed why “Marylanders have lost faith in our elections.” Morgan and the caucus have accused state officials of moving too slowly after Roberts, identified in the reporting as a Guyanese national, was found to have been registered in Maryland despite not being a U.S. citizen.
The Washington Times reported that Roberts had been on Maryland’s voter rolls for more than a decade and was registered twice. The paper also said registration forms showed he checked the citizenship box and signed under penalty of perjury on two occasions.
Fox News reported that the state had continued mailing absentee ballots to Roberts and that Republican lawmakers had pressed Maryland election officials for answers. In January, Maryland elections administrator Jared DeMarinis warned against “improper cancellation,” a phrase he used in discussing the need to avoid wrongly removing eligible voters from the rolls.
Morgan said the case showed the state’s system was broken and called for audits, cooperation with federal authorities and reforms to restore trust in elections.
