Remember Election Day? In Maryland, the counting continues – WTOP News

Regardless of having the ability to begin counting mail-in ballots earlier than Election Day, some Maryland elections boards are working proper as much as and — in come some instances — past the Thanksgiving Day vacation to depend each final vote, together with provisional ballots.

Montgomery County Board of Elections spokesman Gilberto Zelaya known as this midterm contest the “everlasting election.” He famous that the method for the midterms, going again to the first, has been an unusually lengthy one for plenty of causes.

Maryland’s major was pushed again from June 28 to July 19, as a result of authorized battle over redistricting. Montgomery County then had a recount within the County Govt major race, after which it was time to gear up for the final election.

Greater than 500,000 mail-in ballots have been forged statewide; that is proof that adoption of the mail-in poll is a well-liked voting methodology amongst residents. In 2018, simply 5% of the state’s voters selected to forged their ballots by mail, in comparison with almost 25% this 12 months.

Canvassing in Montgomery County is scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. If wanted, Zelaya mentioned canvassing might go proper as much as Nov. 29. Together with remaining mail-in ballots, there are 14,000 provisional ballots forged in particular person.

In Prince George’s County — the place 9,000 provisional and greater than 14,000 web-mail ballots (these forged by e mail) are being counted — canvassing has been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Prince George’s County Board of Elections’ web site mentioned the method is so time-consuming as a result of, “These ballots should be duplicated on to official ballots with the intention to get scanned.” The ballot-counting course of might be prolonged if wanted.

Maryland lawmakers have mentioned that they plan to as soon as once more push for a change in state legislation to permit early processing of mail-in ballots. Within the final Basic Meeting session, state Sen. Cheryl Kagan led the cost to alter the legislation. She was profitable, however that legislation was vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan, who wrote in his veto letter that a number of provisions in payments to alter the legislation “provide constructive adjustments.” However he expressed concern about safety measures, “comparable to signature verification.”

Kagan mentioned the veto led to what she known as “a sizzling mess,” with a protracted canvassing interval that would result in counts stretching proper up in opposition to the date for swearing in plenty of elected officers.

Kagan vowed to suggest laws to handle the difficulty within the upcoming legislative session in Annapolis that begins Jan. 11.

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