U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin is calling on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to investigate instances of voter intimidation and election fraud the senator says occurred in Maryland before the November election.
Cardin, D-Md., made the request Thursday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
The accusations involve former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich and then Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Ehrlich was seeking re-election, while Steele was competing with Cardin for an open Senate seat. Both candidates lost.
Democrats blasted Ehrlich and Steele on Election Day after their campaigns sent out a last-minute voter guide titled “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats” that targeted black voters.
Called an “Official Voter Guide” for “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats,” the Ehrlich and Steele campaigns mailed a “Democratic Sample Ballot” to residents, encouraging them to vote for Ehrlich, Steele and a variety of Democrats, including state attorney general candidate Douglas Gansler and comptroller candidate Peter Franchot.
Cardin told The Examiner Thursday said he wants Gonzales to look at the situation in Maryland and around the country.
“I would like to see election officials know and candidates know that there is a price to pay if they do not conduct their responsibilities as election officials properly, and as candidates there is a limit to what you can do,” Cardin said.
In predominantly black Prince George’s County, the sample ballot cover featured pictures of three black Democrats — former U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne Curry and Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson.
The Ehrlich and Steele campaigns also distributed the sample ballots in Prince George’s on Election Day.
The literature also was mailed and distributed in black communities in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Cardin said.
In November, Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver said the sample ballot was not meant to be misleading.
