Maryland makes absentee voting a challenge

Posted by Tina Righter at 9/9/2008 4:23 PM
Categories: Voting
If you are a Maryland resident, you had better have a perfect personal schedule for election day.  Although Md does claim that “any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot” they make it near impossible for those of us with fluctuating schedules. 

The Maryland State Board of Elections website states:  If you complete and submit this form, [requesting an absentee ballot] you must affirm on the oath that is returned with your voted ballot that you "will be absent or unable to vote in person in the election." If you will not be absent or are able to vote in person in the election, you should not complete and submit this form and should plan on voting at your polling place on election day.

If you commute, work late hours with little notice or have frequent emergent childcare issues, you can “plan on voting at your polling place” but that doesn’t mean it will happen.  If there is a 70% chance I won’t be able to get to the polls, I can’t sign an oath stating categorically that I am UNABLE to vote in person.  Why isn’t it a priority for Maryland to provide contingencies to ensure every vote counts?

http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/2008_absentee_info.html

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