Lawmakers Consider Early Voting Access Bill
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP/WJZ) -- The Maryland House and Ways Committee is considering a bill that would increase the number of early voting centers in general elections.
Political reporter Pat Warren reports the Early Voting Access Act of 2013 will be considered on Thursday.
Baltimore Delegate John Cardin is pushing a bill to allow voters to vote the same day they register.
The one-stop-shopping approach applies only to days when polls are open for early voting. The bill also includes expanding the number of days voters would be able to cast early ballots.
The bill would also allow for an increase in the number of early voting centers in each county during primary elections, at the discretion of the State Board of Elections and the local Board of Elections in each county.
In recent weeks, Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley has also proposed legislation to increase the number of early voting days from six to eight and to allow people to register at the polls just before they vote early.
Long lines during the presidential election spurred the O'Malley administration to propose expansions.
Officials say that voters in Maryland's largest jurisdictions stood in line for hours to cast their ballots early during last fall's early-voting days.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
