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Credit: Peggy Bayard/Patch
BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore County election officials had initially planned to wait until November 10 to count mail-in ballots, but they have since reversed course.
Last month, the State of Maryland Board of Elections filed a lawsuit to challenge a state law requiring officials to wait until two days after election day to count ballots. Last Friday, the Maryland Supreme Court decided in favor of the board of elections, allowing officials to count votes as soon as October.
Rue Lavoie, Baltimore County Board of Elections Director, says the counting of mail-in ballots will start on November 5.
Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate, Dan Cox, expressed opposition to the change. Cox appealed the ruling allowing ballots to be counted before election day, and a Maryland appeals court rejected his appeal.
"The Board of Elections asking the courts to change the rules of election weeks prior to the election being held is unacceptable," Cox said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Wes Moore's campaign released this statement in response.
"Dan Cox is continuing his attempted assault on Maryland's free and fair election system by doubling down on this bogus lawsuit to delay the electoral process."
Mail-in ballots have increased dramatically in popularity in the elections since the pandemic. More than 345,000 Maryland voters voted by mail in the July 2022 primary. Due to the massive number of mail-in votes and the laws requiring officials to wait until two days after the election to start counting them, it took weeks for some counties to certify results.
October 18 is the last day to register to vote, and November 1 is the last day to request a ballot by mail.
Replies
Fletch Jones
Neighbor
10-13-2022 4:35pm
More F-R-A-U-D.
1
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive
PopMedia Radio
Neighbor
10-18-2022 7:27am
Be quiet! There has not been any fraud in counting votes. The only fraud that exists now are the people who want to stop others from voting. They are the fraud and cheaters.
Randy B
Neighbor
10-13-2022 8:06pm
The Legislature is the only agency of government allowed to create or change laws related to elections. An appointed judge does not have that right, nor does the Governor. The court system only shows its arrogance and disregard for the laws it is charged to interpret. I guess that's the democrat way.
All that said, the legislature should change the law in FUTURE elections, and reduce mail in voting, so that the Peoples' decision on candidates can be counted sooner.
PopMedia Radio
Neighbor
10-18-2022 7:30am
What’s the problem in counting votes? No procedural changes - just counting the votes.
marianne quinn
Neighbor
10-20-2022 7:38am
LOL More ways for Maryland to cheat its way again. There should not be mail in ballots any more. The fact that there was so much corruption in this past election with the mail in ballots is a perfect example of why these should not be allowed!!! And before you say there was none, get your head out of the ground and do your research! There are now states decertifying their results. I did mail in for the election and mine WAS NEVER COUNTED! You can track your vote and mine was not ever counted. How many others were not counted? How many people lost their right to choose because of this!
I love my state, but it is one of the most corrupt states. I am sick of the news only pushing what THEY want you to hear and not the facts. The last person in MD Government that actually gave one rats A** for this state was Schaeffer! Love him or hate him, the only thing he cared about was making Baltimore better! This state has gone to total ****. The cost of living is out of control, our city is crime ridden and just plain DIRTY! When is the city going to take care of the rundown row homes? Actually do something about the crime rate? The murders? Maryland has lost its pride. I said what I said.
marianne quinn
Neighbor
10-20-2022 7:44am
lol not one second after posting The Patch flags it as offensive! This is what i am talking about. You don't like what was said so you try to block it. It doesn't match with your agenda so you will silence it! What's offensive? The truth? DO BETTER
