Election Judge Texting Solution 2026- BPM055235.docx

Election Judge Texting Solution for the 2026 Gubernatorial Election Cycle

BPM055235

Purpose/Overview:

Before every election, the local boards of elections (LBE’s) across the State must recruit and train thousands of registered voters to operate polling locations in accordance with Maryland laws and procedures. These individuals are known as election judges. These election judges are trained to operate a polling location during early voting and on election day. While they are required to attend training and to review an instruction manual to familiarize themselves with equipment and procedures, they need a simple means of communication with State and local boards of elections during times of in person voting.

The State Board of Elections (SBE) is requesting a proposal of work and pricing for a turnkey style texting system to allow election judges who are working in the field to receive and report emergency instructions, information, threats or concerning activities at their polling locations with 24 local boards of elections and State Board of Elections for the 2026 election cycle.

This system will support the needs of emergency situational awareness and resource management during crisis and emergent events. The goal is for all election personnel to have real-time intelligence and communication between each of the state’s 24 jurisdictions, so responsible parties can get the information to the right people efficiently and effectively. A smart texting solution that uses key words is preferred.

I. Deliverables

a. Two-way texting solution for emergency communications for election personnel during elections during the 2026 Gubernatorial Election cycle.

b. A turnkey style solution that allows for multiple users (potentially up to 40,000) to access the system concurrently.

c. Configuration of the program to suit the needs of the State and local boards. Including but not limited to the ability of the local board of election to text only those judges/personnel working in a specific jurisdiction or group(s).

d. Training for State and local officials on how to use the platform beginning within one month of receiving the award.

e. Support provided to send messages and respond to them as needed for the State and local boards; especially during the hours of the election events (including set up and closing).

f. Advertising materials for the local boards and election personnel

g. Local phone numbers to which texts can be sent by election judges

h. Short code number for opting in to messaging

i. Online data storage II. Minimum Qualifications:

A qualified hosting vendor must meet the following minimum qualifications for consideration in for this solicitation:

a. Ability to provide a texting solution must have the ability to host and deliver content to up to 40,000 concurrent users.

b. Ability for the service to work on any device that can text (without downloading).

c. Ability to record/track requests (create a work order) until the State or local board determines the request is complete.

d. Ability to use the program without having to learn coding.

a. Experience in supporting government agencies.

b. Experience in election support.

c. Demonstrated experience in providing texting communications for at least 40,000 concurrent users.

III. Preferred Qualifications:

a. Experience providing a smart texting solution that uses key words to identify subject matter of messaging.

IV. Term:

March 15- December 31, 2026. Election judge training begins as early as February. All local boards will need to train and test prior to using the solution. Election event dates:

Primary Election - June 23,2026– 7 am until 8 pm

· Early Voting for the Primary Election - Thursday, June 11, 2026 through Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 7 am until 8 pm.

General Election - November 3, 2026, 7 am until 8 pm

· Early Voting for the General Election - Thursday, October 22, 2026 through Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 7 am until 8 pm.

V. Proposal Submission Requirements:

SBE requires that responses to this solicitation include the following information:

a. Your company’s full name and headquarters location (Country, County, City, and State) and the country and location(s) where the texting solution is designed, developed, and manufactured;

b. The solution’s full name, version number, whether it is currently in production or under development, and the latest or planned production release date;

c. The location(s) where the solution is or has been used. Include the jurisdiction name, the type of jurisdiction (state, county, municipality), the number of registered voters per election that used the solution there, when and for how long it has been used there, and for how many elections. Also, please include a description of the scope of its use, i.e. whether it was used throughout the entire jurisdiction (statewide, countywide), across multiple sites, or if its use was more limited;

d. A description of how the solution is implemented and its capabilities, including but not limited to:

(1) Ability to provide a texting solution must have the ability to host and deliver content to statewide concurrent users;

(2) Ability for the service to work on any device that can text (without downloading);

(3) Ability to record/track requests (create a work order) until the State or local board determines the request is complete; and

(4) Ability to use the program without having to learn coding.

(5) Whether and how a QR code or similar technologies that may be used to help with accessing the solution can be utilized.

e. A description of any online storage and auditing capability including encryption of all stored and transmitted data using FIPS 140-2 validated encryption standards and how compliance will be met for MPIA and FOIA requests.

f. If applicable, a description of the solution’s platform, whether it is a stand alone application, cloud based (AWS GovCloud or Azure Government Authorized environment) or uses other third party services to access it, including if any additional software or hardware installation would be necessary for it to run.

g. A description of the solution’s flexibility in accommodating technology advancements, security updates, and new regulations; including but not limited to all MFA methods, safeguards to prevent abuse of keyword-based automation, and high availability infrastructure recommendations.

h. A description of the types of training and documentation available with your system.

i. An estimate of how long the solution takes to implement.

j. A description of technical and customer support.

k. A description of data protection; how the offered solution protects our data and privacy needs.

l. A description of a data retention and disposal schedule if the data is stored on a cloud based system.

SBE may invite vendors to make presentations and/or demonstrate their systems to advance Maryland’s understanding of available solutions and increase its knowledge about currently deployed and future solutions that may be considered for the State of Maryland’s texting solution.

The deadline to submit the requested information is February 20, 2026, at 2:00 pm. The required submissions must be emailed to: Whitney.LeRoux@maryland.gov.

Jared DeMarinis State Administrator

Katherine Berry Deputy Administrator Michael Summers, Chairman Jim Shalleck, Vice Chairman Diane Butler Victoria Jackson-Stanley Eric Bryant

Election Judge Texting Solution – 2026 02/04/2026

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