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Democratic Lawmakers Denounce Troop Surge With a Passionate Letter to Capitol Hill
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The bills, which are on the legislative fast track and are being sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), would allow voters to decide whether to amend the state Constitution to allow ballots to be cast in the week before the election. If the bills are approved, voters would decide whether to change the Constitution in 2008.
The General Assembly approved legislation to allow early voting, but the law was deemed unconstitutional by the state's highest court.
On the Senate floor, Minority Whip Allan H. Kittleman (Howard) asked whether the early voting law that was approved by the General Assembly earlier would automatically go into effect, and Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (Frederick) asked where voters would be able to cast their ballots.
Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-St. Mary's) said new legislation would have to be enacted.
House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (Calvert) said Republicans want to ensure that some "partisan" provisions of last year's bill are stripped out, particularly locations of specific polling places for early voting.
"They gave partisan advantage to Democrats," O'Donnell said. In his district, for example, Waldorf, a Democratic-leaning area, was on the list instead of La Plata, the county seat. The House is expected to take up the bill again today.
Sen. Dolores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County) said those details could be worked out "down the road."
-- Ovetta Wiggins
