Flexibilty sought for early voting

Now that Maryland voters have approved early voting in a constitutional amendment, the state’s top elections official is urging lawmakers not to put the sort of requirements on early voting that gave Republicans heartburn and brought about a lawsuit against the plan. The lead Senate sponsor on enabling legislation said he planned to comply.

“The earlier you put early voting, the more pressure you put on us,” State Elections Administrator Linda Lamone told a joint committee hearing Wednesday. She said that was especially true in 2010, when there will be only 45 days between the Sept. 14 primary and the Nov. 2 general election.