Despite line forecasts, no surge in absentee ballot requests

Despite a surge in new voters and predictions for historic turnout at the polls next month, Maryland officials say requests for absentee ballots — seen by many as a way to avoid long precinct lines — remain about average.

About 172,000 Marylanders have requested an absentee ballot as of Thursday, or about 5 percent of the state’s 3.4 million registered voters. Absentee voters in Maryland must sign an oath affirming they can’t vote in person, a restriction that election officials in other states said could exacerbate long lines Nov. 4.