Ehrlich urges worried voters to cast paper absentee ballots

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006

‘‘I just think it would put an additional strain on local elections officials,” said Frederick County Board of Elections Director Stuart Harvey. ‘‘If we change things again this close to the November election, what I’m concerned about ... is I don’t want anything to confuse the voters at this point.”

Critics said an influx of absentee ballots would be costly and delay results in close races. Additional staffers might need to be hired and more optical scan machines, which tally absentee votes, might be needed, they said.

But aides to the governor said absentee ballots are the most sensible way of allaying fears over problems with electronic voting system that plagued the Sept. 12 primary.

‘‘When you consider the long lines at the polls, the malfunctioning electronic poll books, and the questionable performance of the voting machines itself, the governor is receptive to the idea of absentee ballots as an option,” said Henry P. Fawell, an Ehrlich aide. Absentee ballots are tabulated the Thursday following an election, meaning close races may be undecided for days.

‘‘The governor is more interested in an accurate election than a quick one,” Fawell said, adding that Ehrlich is prepared to offer additional money to avoid a repeat of primary election snafus.

Political observers said Ehrlich’s move is a political ploy.

‘‘I think he’s preying upon the fears of people that when you vote electronically, maybe your vote isn’t counted,” said Zach Messitte, director of the Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

E-mail Alan Brody at abrody@somdnews.com.