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Hogan Legislative Appointment Clears Way for Felon Voting Rights Bill

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Larry Hogan has appointed Del. Craig Zucker to a vacant seat in the Maryland Senate.

Doug Mayer, a Hogan spokesman, said the appointment was made Wednesday.

Zucker, a Montgomery County Democrat, will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of former Sen. Karen Montgomery, D-Montgomery. Zucker is scheduled to be sworn in Thursday.

The appointment has significance beyond filling a Senate vacancy. The Senate has been one vote short of being able to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill that would allow felons to vote while they are on parole or probation.

The House of Delegates already has voted to override the veto, and Zucker voted for the override. 

The Senate veto override vote is scheduled for Friday, a day after Zucker is sworn in.

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.