League of Women Voters of Maryland

The League of Women Voters of Maryland supports the amendments to Article 33 that are proposed by this legislation and we commend Senators Gladden, Conway, Dyson and Exum for their thorough and thoughtful suggestions to this statute. We are particularly impressed with the voter-friendliness of these recommended changes to our Election Law, specifically the provision that will allow any voter to cast a provisional ballot should a Chief Judge at a polling place determine that a problem outside a voter’s control case the voter to be unable to vote a regular ballot. We believe, however, that a voter who has had his or her eligibility to cast a ballot at that polling place confirmed by an election judge, that the ballot cast by that voter should not be subject to the same post-election scrutiny of provisional ballots that are cast by voters whose eligibility is questioned. Additionally, we are pleased with the pro-active methods suggested in this bill and SBE amendments to deal with a situation which delays the timely opening of polling place. The clarifications to the limitations on the actions of challengers and watchers are necessary and appropriate. Regarding the recommended changes in this bill concerning campaign literature, while all of us recognize that information in campaign literature is frequently exaggerated and selective, this bill addresses in a positive and clear manner the outright falsehoods presented to voters by way of campaign literature. The referral of violations of this section to the Circuit Court for preventive relief is an appropriate recommendation, and we are confident that the Maryland judiciary can accommodate this additional responsibility. We urge your positive action on SB 54.

References

Bill: 

SB 54-Voters Rights Protection Act of 2008