In a time when we keep hearing about GOP efforts to limit voting, it is refreshing to hear the proposal of Maryland Governor O'Malley to make voting more accessible.
O'Malley's office said the administration is trying to reverse a trend in other states of limiting voter turnout through such measures as stricter voter identification rules.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/...
According to The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun, Governor O'Malley is proposing increasing the number of early voting days from six to eight, increasing the number of early voting locations in five Maryland Counties, increasing the hours per day for early voting during Presidential elections, and allowing same day registration during early voting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/...
The proposal is part of the legislative package proposed by Governor O'Malley. It will need to be voted on by the Maryland legislature.
One reason why Governor O'Malley proposed the legislation was because of the long lines at Maryland early voting locations during the Presidential election. This was well reported in the local media at that time.
Dedicated voters in Prince George’s County were put to the test during early voting with lines that stretched outside of polling places and sometimes down the street. Jeronn Russell told News4 she waited four hours to vote.
“If we are having three- and four-hour waits during the early vote period, what does that translate to on Nov. 6?” Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee Terry Speigner asked.
He’s worried that some voters may get frustrated, leave and not go back to vote.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/...
Not surprisingly, Republicans in Maryland are opposed to the early voting expansion.
David Ferguson, executive director of the Maryland Republican Party, said that same-day registration would invite voter fraud and more broadly questioned the governor’s motivations . . .
[And] Del. Kathy Afzali (R-Frederick) questioned the need for O’Malley’s plan.“I think more early voting is very unnecessary,” said Afzali, who serves on an election law subcommittee in the House. “It will cost more money.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/martin-omalley-to-propose-expanding-early-voting-in-maryland/2013/01/17/41022cec-60f5-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_story.html
Thank you Governor O'Malley for trying to do the right thing for the citizens of Maryland.