Marylanders push for mail-in ballots to be automatic, critics cite voter fraud or mistakes

MARYLAND – Certain groups in Maryland are calling on the governor to reverse his decision to require voters to request a mail-in ballot for this year’s election. Instead they’re pushing for ballots to be sent out automatically, which is what Maryland did for the primary election in June.

Supporters say automatically mailing ballots would do three main things: help prevent the spread of COVID-19, create equitable voting access as well as cut down on costs. However, critics believe it may increase the chance for voter fraud.

“You’ve heard about the lack of polling locations, the lack of judges that are willing to participate and we’re certainly concerned that’s going to lead to long lines on Election Day,” says Kevin Kinally with the Maryland Association of Counties.

Marylanders who want to vote by mail in November currently have to fill out an application ahead of time. So advocates are pushing for the state to automatically mail ballots to all registered voters for the 2020 Presidential Election in November.

“The real danger in a pandemic situation is the amount of time people are exposed to the virus,” says Mike Latner with the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Supporters of mail-in ballots say COVID-19 poses a risk to voters at every stage of the in person process. “Transportation to the voting location, waiting in line, touching shared surfaces which can have droplets,” says Dr. Joshua Sharfstein with John Hopkins School of Public Health.

Many also believe the current process does not provide equitable voting access. Advocates say people with disabilities may face challenges with having to fill out and mail both an application and ballot, instead of just a ballot.

“There’s a gambit of different disabilities that adding an additional barrier will complicate this process and further disenfranchise a population that is already at risk and already turns out to the polls at a lower rate,” says Ben Jackson with Disability Rights Maryland.

Many also point to the financial impact of running polling locations during a pandemic as well as the costs associated with mailing both the applications and ballots. “We’re talking about increased costs here for personal protective equipment, Plexiglas, training, storage, transportation, pre-paid postage,” says Kinally.

However, people weighed in on social media and some say they don’t support mailing ballots to everyone because of risk for voter fraud or mistakes on ballots. One person saying, “Disagree — too risky with the ballots going to people who have passed.” Another saying this was done for the primary and they had, “a bunch of information wrong” on the ballots.

Governor Larry Hogan has previously said he encourages voters to cast their ballot by mail in November. However, he has not mandated that all registered voters automatically receive ballots by mail like he did for the primary. Hogan has said too many mistakes were made during the primary with mail-in ballots either people not receiving them, receiving ones with errors or getting them late.

If you are looking to vote in person this November, Governor Hogan has said unlike the primary all polling locations will be open.  Meanwhile if you want to request an absentee, October 27th is the deadline for ballots by mail and October 30th is the deadline to download it online.