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Gov. O'Malley Proposes Expansion of Early Voting

123rf.com

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley is proposing legislation to increase the number of early voting days from six to eight and to allow people to register at the polls just before they vote early.

The Washington obtained a draft of the bill, which O'Malley is expected to propose Friday in Annapolis.

A gubernatorial spokeswoman says the bill is "about providing more opportunities for citizens to register and vote."

Maryland Republican Party Executive Director David Ferguson says same-day registration invites voter fraud. He expressed further concern, saying he's "suspicious" anytime "Democrats start messing with election law."

Voters in many large jurisdictions stood in line for hours during last fall's early-voting days. According to the State Board of Elections, three times as many Democrats as Republicans took advantage of the opportunity.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.