From the Republican National platform Wish this were true of Pocomoke!”
Protecting the Right to Vote in Fair Elections
Many members of the Armed Services will find it difficult to participate in this year’s elections becaus
e of the government’s reliance on outdated and inadequate voting, notification, and ballot delivery systems. The mishandling and delaying of registration forms and absentee ballots disenfranchises thousands of our servicemen and servicewomen. The Commander-in-Chief, the Department of Defense, and state and local election officials must do more to protect the voting rights of those on the front lines of freedom. That means using expedited mail delivery to bring ballots to and from our troops abroad, including those serving in areas of conflict, while completing work on an electronic ballot delivery system that will enable our military personnel to receive and cast their ballots in a secure and convenient manner.
We oppose attempts to distort the electoral process by wholesale restoration of the franchise to convicted felons, by makeshift or hurried naturalization procedures, or by discretionary ballot-reading by election boards.
Preventing voting fraud is a civil rights issue. We support the right of states to require an official government-issued photo identification for voting and call upon the Department of Justice to deploy its resources to prevent ballot tampering in the November elections. We support efforts by state and local election officials to ensure integrity in the voting process and to prevent voter fraud and abuse, particularly as it relates to voter registration and absentee ballots.
The rights of citizenship do not stop at the ballot box. They include the free-speech right to devote one’s resources to whatever cause or candidate one supports. We oppose any restrictions or conditions upon those activities that would discourage Americans from exercising their constitutional right to enter the political fray or limit their commitment to their ideals.
Contributed by Sharon Beyma, former Pocomoke City Finance Administrator
posted on: Sunday, March 29th, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
With regard to absentee ballots, please see the following excerpt from the Maryland State Elections Board website for the Maryland laws covering elections”
Absentee Voting
Who is eligible to vote an absentee ballot?
Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. (See “How do I apply for an absentee ballot below.”)
Important Note: If you complete and submit this form, you must affirm on the oath that is returned with your voted ballot that you “will be absent or unable to vote in person in the election.” If you will not be absent or are able to vote in person in the election, you should not complete and submit this form and should plan on voting at your polling place on election day.
I’ll be out of town on election day. How will I vote?
You may be able to vote by absentee ballot. (See “How do I apply for an absentee ballot” below.)
Can someone who is ill or in the hospital on election day still vote?
Yes. The person desiring to vote may apply in person or through a duly authorized agent. (See “How do I apply for an absentee ballot” and “Can so
meone else pick up my ballot” below.)
How do I apply for an absentee ballot?
Beginning on the Wednesday preceding the election through 8:00 p.m. on election day, a registered voter or the voter’s duly authorized agent may apply in person for an absentee ballot at the office of the local board.
You can download an application from SBE’s website or pick one up from your local board of elections. The completed application must be hand delivered to the local board of elections.
Can someone else pick up my ballot?
A qualified applicant may designate an agent to pick up and deliver the absentee ballot. The agent:
* Must be at least 18 years old;
* May not be a candidate on the ballot;
* Must be designated in writing by the voter, under penalty of perjury;
* Must sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury that the ballot was:
o Delivered to the voter;
o Marked and placed in an envelope by the voter, or with assistance, in the agent’s presence; and
o Returned to the local board by the agent (Not later than 8 p.m. on election day).
Can someone help me vote?
From the Maryland State Election Board site:
A voter who requires assistance in casting an absentee ballot by reason of disability, inability to write, or inability to read the ballot may be ass
isted by any individual other than:
* A candidate who is on the voter’s ballot;
* The voter’s employer or an agent of the employer; or
* An officer or agent of the voter’s union.
A person assisting a voter in completing an absentee ballot must execute a certification and include that certification with the completed ballot. Contact the local board of elections in the county of residence of the voter for details on this process.
How do I cast an absentee ballot?
With your absentee ballot, you will receive detailed instructions on how to complete the ballot. Please read these instructions and either (1) return the voted ballot to your local board of elections by 8:00 p.m. on election day; or (2) mail the voted ballot on or before election day.
Can I mail my absentee ballot on election day?
Yes. Absentee ballots must be mailed on or before election day.
I have contacted the Maryland Election Board with some questions regarding current council members or their designees handling absentee ballots. It is very clear that candidates on the ballot should not handle absentee ballots in any way.
posted on: Sunday, March 29th, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
no voting changes will ever be made unless it benefits the democratic party. Think ‘ACORN’. In-fact most voting laws are violated by the democratic party and go un-protested.
posted on: Sunday, March 29th, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
Maryland Code, Section 13-602 (a)(1) A person may not directly or indirectly give, offer, or promise money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing to another person for the purpose of inducing or procuring that person to vote or refrain from voting for or against: (i) an individual at an election.
(a)(2) A person may not directly or indirectly receive, accept, request, or solicit money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing from another person for the purpose of inducing or procuring a third person to vote or refrain from voting for or against an individual at an election.
(a)(3) A person may not vote or refrain from voting for or against an individual, … at an election in consideration of money, aid, a gift, an advantage, a preferment, an emolument, or any other valuable thing paid, received, accepted, or promised to the advantage of that person or of another person.
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is: (1) Subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both; and (2) Ineligible to hold any public or party office for 4 years after the date of the offense.
Maryland Code, Section 16-201 (a) A person may not willfully and knowingly: (5) Influence or attempt to influence a voter’s voting decision through the use of force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer of reward. (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $2,500 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both.
posted on: Monday, March 30th, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
If I ever fill out an absentee ballot, I will mail in my ballot, not give it to someone to take it to city hall.
Hay Stephanie, maybe you should check with some of the persons that sent in absentee ballots thru your opponent. Remember in the past, how absentee ballots were received at city hall, but some of the voters swore they NEVER filled out an absent ballot. I am not saying that this has happened in this election, but history seems to repeat itself.
posted on: Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 @ 8:39 am