Calls for extended voting hours Tuesday came from both sides of the political fence, as an emergency lawsuit kept polls open until 9 p.m.
But don?t think this signals any unity between Republicans and Democrats.
“The predominant problem is that in dozens of precincts, Republican judges refused to turn up and do their jobs,” Democratic Party spokesman David Paulson said.
“We?re going to certainly take a close look at it, and see if it meets the smell test, and see if it?s something that may be coordinated.”
At least 118 of the 300-plus precincts in Baltimore City reported “serious election problems,” he said.
Republican Party spokeswoman Audra Miller said Paulson is “very good at putting together conspiracy theories,” but in fact, recruiting election workers was difficult across the board.
“Why would we want to influence the Democratic primary? It?s ridiculous,” she said. Many judges and election workers quit because of “partisan legislation being foisted on the local boards of election” ? of course, by the Democrats, Miller said.
Outside party headquarters, candidates across the state and from both parties called for extended voting hours, which were granted in two of the three largest jurisdictions ? Baltimore City and Montgomery County.
Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Michael Steele released a statement from his Mitchellville headquarters supporting the Baltimore City extension.
“The voting hours in Baltimore should be extended to ensure that every eligible voter there has the opportunity to vote today,” the statement read.
“We know there were some human errors this morning with electronic voting machines in Montgomery County that caused the county to extend voting hours until 9 p.m. To ensure uniformity and fairness, we should implement this same safeguard in Baltimore and err on the side of caution so no Marylander is denied their fundamental right to vote.”
Democrat Oz Bengur, running for the 3rd Congressional District, also released a statement.
“It is unacceptable that voters in the 3rd District are being turned away in this important election. I am calling on Maryland election officials to do everything in their power to rectify this situation so that voters can make their voices heard,” the statement read.
