The early-voting ballot question has been criticized and supported for the same reason: It promotes voting freedom.
On one side of the coin, the constitutional amendment would allow voters to cast their ballots up to two weeks before an election at any location.
On the flip side, some said it could lead to more fraud and is too unrestricted.
The less-publicized, early-voting statewide ballot question has been overshadowed by the hotly contested, widely promoted slots question that would authorize the state to issue up to five licenses — the largest allowance going to Laurel Racetrack in Anne Arundel — for up to a total of 15,000 slot machines.
The early-voting issue gained some attention during a forum this week in which state Sens. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard and Carroll, and James Robey, D-Howard, who were on opposing sides of the issue
“Early voting in Maryland without identification — I think most people would not like that,” said Kittleman. “It would allow anyone to vote anywhere two weeks early.”
Currently, Maryland does not require voters to show a photo ID to cast a ballot.
Kittleman suggested early voting also could increase the likelihood of fraud, particularly from groups like the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now or ACORN, which has been accused of fraudulently registering voters in several states.
ACORN Maryland, which has registered a couple hundred residents, dismissed this notion, and also defended efforts in firing dishonest employees.
“It’s a tactic to scare people and dampen turnout,” said Stuart Katzenberg, head organizer of ACORN Maryland.
Robey stressed the importance of voting and how as many as people possible should be allowed to vote. Fraud can happen with any situation and must be dealt with accordingly, he said.
“Times have changed and people work different schedules and are far away from home,” he said.
The candidates were divided over early voting increasing turnout. Kittleman said it may increase convenience for voters, but not actual turnout.
But Robey said early voting has significantly increased turnout in states that allow it.
Michael Hanmer, assistant professor in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland at College Park, who has expertise in election reform and voter turnout, said the consensus in political science is early voting generally doesn’t increase voter turnout.
“It’s just an easier path for people who are largely going to vote anyway,” he said. “These are the people with the strongest partisan feelings.”
Early voting, however, does represent an active step by government to encourage and facilitate participation, he added.
The forum at the Howard County School System’s Applications and Research Lab TV studio in Ellicott City was sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Association of Community Services and Chamber of Commerce.
QUESTION 1
The constitutional amendment would authorize the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow qualified voters:
• To vote at polling places inside or outside of their election districts or wards and to vote up to two weeks before an election.
• To allow absentee voting by qualified voters who choose to vote by absentee ballot, in addition to voters who are absent at the time of the election or who are unable to vote personally.
To see the other ballot questions throughout the region, visit www.elections.state.md.us/elections/ 2008/questions/index.html
Source: Maryland Board of Elections
