The Howard County Republican Central Committee has collected more signatures than required for its petition protesting early voting ? in time for today?s deadline.
“We?re on the right track toward defeating this,” said John Wafer, a Republican committee member who orchestrated the drive.
About 4,000 Howard County residents signed the petition ? 400 more than the committee?s original goal of 3,600 ? in opposition to the new state law that allows five days of early voting at certain locations beginning with the November election.
The measure disenfranchises Republican voters because all three Howard County sites are in the Democrat-centered Eastern portion of the county, according to Brian Harlin, chairman of the Howard County Republican Central Committee.
However, early voting was intended to give people more opportunities to vote, said Bill Woodcock, member of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee.
“The Republicans have been known to suppress the votes in other states in other years. It?s disappointing those types of tactics are coming here,” he said.
After scrambling for support this week, collectingabout 1,000 signatures at picnics, shopping centers and front doors, the Republican committee is scheduled to submit the petition to the State Board of Elections today.
The 4,000 signatures will be added to a state goal of 51,185 ? the minimum needed to place the policy on the ballot in November ? led by Marylanders for Fair Elections, a volunteer group supported by Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
A judge is expected to rule today on whether the petition can be put to a referendum, said Donna Duncan, director of the Maryland Board of Elections Management Division.
Early voting sites
» East Columbia Senior Center
6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
» Ellicott City Senior Center
9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City
» Savage Volunteer Fire Hall
8925 Lincoln St., Savage
