By Dale E. Livingston | Guest Commentary
Editor’s Note: This guest commentary reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the editorial position of MDBayNews. The commentary references remarks made during a recent presentation before the Maryland House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee.
Sir Ernest Benn, in 1944, said:
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it wrongly and applying unsuitable remedies.”
When I saw this quote, it made me think that it was not only appropriate for Politics, but could also be applied to our Maryland Election System.
One could say…
“Elections provide a creative way to generate problems, find them in every process, diagnose them using a certain agenda, and apply ridiculous and convoluted remedies.”
Our State Administrator, Jared DeMarinis, could be characterized as a Predicament Architect because he appears eager to identify problems and issues regarding Voter Registration, Accessibility, Voter Intimidation, Disenfranchisement, Misinformation and Disinformation, etc., often using them to justify creating new Policies that are presented as improvements, while raising legitimate concerns about how much authority is being consolidated in the process.
Mr. DeMarinis recently made a presentation to the Maryland General Assembly House Government, Labor and Elections Committee. During that presentation, he lauded his efforts to make Maryland’s Election System a “National Model Standard” — a “Shining Star” across the Nation.
Interesting. So how is he planning to do this?
One claim he made was that:
“…I am always proactive in my efforts, I don’t believe in waiting for issues to come to Maryland before addressing them…”
O-kay — so is he anticipating problems that don’t exist so that he can reformulate new Policies which will further complicate the System?
He wants to make sure that High Schoolers “…understand the struggles they have and that they have always had and that they think they have always had the ability to vote or have easy access.” He goes on to say “…that wasn’t the case when some of your parents or Grandparents were alive and you have to constantly celebrate those Anniversaries to make sure they understand that this was a right that was stripped along the way here. It was not universally granted.”
Wow — sounds a little like the word salad from Kamala Harris.
He frequently mislabels the public’s concerns as misinformation and disinformation when they ask questions. Another comment he made had something to do with:
“…Election Administrators were always on the sidelines with the policy go round.”
I have no idea what that means. From experience, the State Election Administrator and his loyal minions — the entire election bureaucracy — have never been on the sidelines of policy. They’ve been in the drafting room.
He goes on to say:
“…We are on the frontlines in this battle for mis and dis information. It’s more important than ever that we have to do outreach and I take that seriously in my feelings here.”
More salad… please pass the Ranch Dressing.
If Mr. DeMarinis were more willing to acknowledge it, he might concede that members of the public view parts of the election community itself as contributing to confusion — amplifying potential threats and vulnerabilities in ways that make the system appear perpetually under siege.
For example, election offices installing bulletproof glass in lobbies creates a certain visual narrative. Some members of the public question whether such measures contribute to an atmosphere of crisis rather than clarity.
His ego also shined a spotlight on itself when he said:
“I am THE Trusted Source for Electoral Information, not an influencer or so-called expert on a social media platform…”
Hmmm. I’m sure he wouldn’t want millions of people watching him on social media. No — not THE TRUSTED SOURCE of Electoral Information! His ego would never stand for that! Silly me!
He goes on to say:
“…maybe they think they read something or heard something. Especially to the younger voters I want to make sure that they come to the SBE website, tag me on social media… I’d be happy to answer their questions and make sure that ‘they’ understand ‘their rights.’”
I wonder if Mr. DeMarinis has ever read the Constitution?
As far as I know, every eligible citizen in America has the right to vote. Framing concerns about transparency or security as though they stem from misunderstanding can feel dismissive. It risks sending the message that skepticism itself is suspect.
He absolutely is a very creative Predicament Architect. His mantra seems to be:
“Let’s identify potential needs; lay out processes and procedures; consult with friends in the Legislature; show detailed tactics; negotiate the agenda; and administrate the final plan.”
This architectural mindset was evident when he told the Committee he is:
“looking for new and innovative ways to enhance voting and try to achieve a 100% voter turnout.”
Holy Moly — can you imagine standing in line with 4.6 million people waiting to vote?
And then he says:
“If we can remove unnecessary barriers to voting that lead to disenfranchisement, I’m open to share this…”
Yes, Jared DeMarinis the Predicament Architect — along with his staff and local boards — has been working to take our Election System to levels we never imagined.
With his guidance and as a “Trusted Source of Electoral Information,” Mr. DeMarinis sometimes gives the impression that questioning election administration is problematic in itself — that we should simply trust the structure being built.
That posture begins to feel less like open civic debate and more like command-and-control governance.
When you get right down to it, the Predicament Architect doesn’t appear especially interested in issues that originate outside his own framework. If it isn’t a problem he has identified, it may not rise to the level of attention.
Critics worry that this approach centralizes too much authority within election administration and leaves the public feeling sidelined.
Maryland voters deserve transparency, humility, and openness to scrutiny.
Asking questions about elections is not extremism.
It is civic responsibility.
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