On May 20, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich chose to veto Senate Bill
478, legislation to establish in-person early voting in Maryland. The
Right to Vote Initiative, a program of FairVote, presented the
following comment:
�The FairVote Right to Vote Initiative is deeply disappointed with
Governor Ehrlich�s veto of Senate Bill 478 � Election Law � Early
Voting. Thirty-five states already enjoy the benefits of early voting
in person, which include: reduced lines on election day; more
convenient voting times for people with inflexible schedules; a means
for people to accommodate last minute schedule changes when they occur
too late to apply for an absentee ballot; a means to avoid the long
turnaround time for voting by mail; and a chance to work out any flaws
in the election system before the large number of votes are cast on
election day.
�Although we share the Governor�s concerns about voter fraud, we
disagree with his assertion that early voting presents a greater
opportunity for fraud than election day voting. If reforms to ensure
the integrity of elections are needed, they should be undertaken in
addition to early voting, not at its expense. If the legislature does
not override the governor�s veto, we support at a minimum the
appointment of a commission to study early voting and urge the Governor
to ensure that this process is undertaken on a timetable directed at
the next state election. We further recommend that Maryland establish a
standing committee to review voting laws and practices that may inhibit
participation or shortchange the right to vote.�
The Right to Vote Initiative is organized around the principle that we must
vigorously uphold the right to vote, treating it as a right of the
greatest importance rather than as a privilege that the federal
government, states and localities can protect haphazardly and
unequally. The Initiative is a program of FairVote, a non-profit,
nonpartisan organization led by former presidential candidate John B.
Anderson and FairVote executive director Rob Richie.
For more information, contact Ryan Griffin of the Right to Vote Initiative at [email protected] or (301) 270-4616.