Delaware: Letting Felons Vote
DOVER, Del. (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at making it easier for convicted felons to vote in Delaware continues to wind its way through the legislature.
The state House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the amendment, which cleared the previous legislative session but must pass two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly. The bill would amend Delaware's constitution to eliminate the 5-year waiting period before eligible felons who have completed their sentences could have their voting rights restored.
The bill narrowly won approval in the House last year after initially failing to get the required two-thirds majority. It was resurrected and passed with just enough votes to spare after a dissenting Republican was assured that a lifetime ban on voting for felons who commit violent crimes would remain in place.
Maryland: Early Voting Expanded
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Senate has passed a measure that would increase the number of early voting centers in some jurisdictions.
The Senate voted 35-12 in favor of the bill Monday night. The measure now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Supporters of the measure say the bill's aim is to minimize long wait times at early voting centers experienced by voters in the November election.
Opponents of the legislation argued that a provision that allows early voters to register and cast their ballot on the same day could lead to fraud.
The bill had been previously amended to allow counties larger than 400 square miles, but with fewer than 125,000 registered voters, to increase early voting centers from one to two - to cut down on voter travel time.
