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Early Voting Spawning Debates Over, Costs And Benefits Of Program

October 1st, 2012 by WCBC Radio

Early voting in Maryland was meant to make the ballot box more accessible by giving voters additional chances to cast their ballots, but instead, the perceived shortcomings of the program have spawned a debate over costs, benefits and partisan bias. Early voting turnout has been low since its introduction in 2010. Only 2.4 percent of all eligible voters cast their ballots ahead of the April 3 primary election — roughly the same as in 2010. Compared to the 2006 election, total turnout in 2010 stayed flat, with one in two Marylanders voting, though about 6 percent of those voters cast their ballots before Election Day, according to data from the Maryland State Board of Elections. With such bleak numbers, there are many advocating abolishing the program. However, early voting will be part of this year’s election and Allegany County Election Administrator Diane Loibel provided and overview the county commissioners…





One Response to “Early Voting Spawning Debates Over, Costs And Benefits Of Program”

  1. October 02, 2012 at 12:02 am, C Tracy said:

    I find it difficult to understand why an individual would want to cast an early ballot. Suppose you spend your vote early only to later learn that the candidate has some major flaw — you have wasted your vote.

    Reply

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