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Attachment E Ear1y Voting Dra�vs Suppor�, Criticism e'C?.`5��°i.).., :;��41�:.'.—'.:� �C:iL,'3i._,'Lto....(l�t�� G��'�.��'.S� C�'��. ..., �?;"'t W��-3� E�:'C:[G�',t?f <�... s:i�;,� AIVNAPOLiS, Md. -- Maryland voters will decide when they vote Nov. 4 whether to join 3i other states that curren�ly aI1ow �arly voting, but the ic�ea is seeing some oppasition. Ear1y vating is meant ta give voters niare tiriie anc� more flexibility to cast �heir bailots. Curbsides, grocery stores, shopping malls ancl libraries could all be pol�ing places under early voting, WBAL'I`V �i News reporfer David Collins said. �upporters oi the idea applauded the concept as providing greater access to the polls. "Ear�y voting provides opportunities for peopl� �rho work long ho urs, who may work far away fro�-n their home so they can't get to the polling place easily," saic� Nancy Soreng, vice president of the League o� Wamen Voters. Question 1 on the November ballot in Maryland am�nc�s t�e state constitution to authorize the General Assembly to pass lEgislation that crea�es an early voting process. Tt wauld allow ballots to be cast up to two weeks befare Election Day. I� also allows for a no- excuse absentee ballot, me�ning voters would no longer have to sign an oaih indicating �hat �hey �von't be in town to vote in person. Many Republicans said they are op�ased. Anne Arundel County Sen. Janet Greenip said that absenteE batlats mal�e the rnitiative unnecessary and is concerned that it could lead to voter fraud because i� allows p�ople to vote anywhere in the sfate, regardless of where they are registered. "Anybody �vho can`t make it on Election Day already �as an aut. There"s a problem, also, with keeping the polls open. We`re tal�zing abou� a minimum of three polls per county for i4 days. How do we knaw that �hose machines -- o� whaiever we are using -- �rE secure?" Greenip said. The General Assembly authorizec� early vating in the 2005 and 2006 sessions, but then-Gov. Robert Ehrlich vetoed both bills in part because Democrats identified specific polling plac�s where early voting co�ld �ake place. The �eneral Asse�nbly overrade the 2006 veto, b�t the Court of Appeals dEClar�d it unconstitutional, ruling that early voting clashed with the state cons�itution, specifically spelling out the date, place and time for vofing. "We are set#ing a precedent right now �hat for the first tim� ever, we don't have an Election Day;" Greenip said: "This only autharizes the General Asseznbly �o create a mechanism so up to two weeks before an e�ection, vote�s can go to a polling place t�at inay or may no� be in their owr� district and cast their ballots," Soreng said. If passec�, many officials said they expec� a battle at the State Hot�se over costs and where the early voting polls will be Iocated.