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source_url: https://www.wbal.com/maryland-sen-chris-van-hollen-addresses-president-trumps-claim-about-mail-in-ballot-error
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Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Monday responded to a [social media post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116597282587201743) President Donald Trump made about the [state’s mail-in ballot mistake](https://www.wbal.com/state-unveils-ballot-replacement-plan).
| VIDEO ABOVE: Got the wrong mail-in ballot? Here’s what to do
Trump claimed the state mailed out half a million “illegal mail-in ballots” and blamed Maryland Gov. Wes Moore for the snafu.
“This was done by the Corrupt Governor of the State, Wes Moore,” Trump said in part on Truth Social. “He allowed this to happen to make sure that Democrats win.”
While visiting Morgan State University, Van Hollen said Trump “regularly says things that are completely untrue, and that’s a diplomatic way of saying it.”
Van Hollen added that Trump is purposefully trying to undermine the confidence of voters.
“It’s very important that voters exercise their civic duty and get out and cast those ballots, whether they’re mail-in ballots or showing up at the voting booths,” Van Hollen said.
Trump repeated his social media statement during an appearance before reporters at the White House late Monday afternoon.
“Five hundred thousand ballots were sent out and were totally fraudulent, and then they said we’ll pull them back. Well they didn’t pull them back and they have 500,000 new ballots,” Trump said. “So what happens to the original? Are they going to come in and infect our system?”
Moore’s office released the following statement Monday evening regarding Trump’s comments:
“President Trump’s statement is false and irresponsible. The State Board of Elections identified a vendor error, disclosed it publicly, and is fixing it to ensure every eligible voter receives a valid ballot and every valid vote is counted. Marylanders should look to the State Board of Elections for accurate information — not social media misinformation designed to undermine confidence in our elections.”
The Maryland State Board of Elections said, while 500,000 Marylanders requested ballots, the [error made by its vendor](https://www.wbal.com/state-unveils-ballot-replacement-plan) only affects those sent out before May 14.
Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis said people who have already returned their mail-in ballot should vote again using the replacement ballot. He added that only the replacement ballot will be counted.
The state will begin sending out replacement ballots on Tuesday.