A recent article by the news outlet ProPublica focuses on various laws and regulations in many states requiring voter identification at polling places. From the ProPublica coverage:

Voter IDs laws have become a political flashpoint in what’s gearing up to be another close election year. Supporters say the laws — which 30 states have now enacted in some form — are needed to combat voter fraud, while critics see them as a tactic to disenfranchise voters.

We’ve taken a step back to look at the facts behind the laws and break down the issues at the heart of the debate.

Maryland is not among the states that have enacted such laws, but a range of similar issues dealing with election administration and regulations have been passed in Maryland in recent years. MACo has worked with the Maryland Association of Election Officials to develop a session on these issues for the upcoming summer conference:

November 2012 and Beyond – Handling New Voting Options

As individuals’ lives have become busier and technology has changed, so has the way
individuals can vote. We now have early voting, the printing of ballots on demand,
and the implementation of voting by mail in Montgomery County for special
elections. This session will discuss these initiatives, what to expect in the upcoming
election, legislation and future direction.

Speakers: David Garreis, Deputy Election Director, Anne Arundel County; Stuart
Harvey, Election Director, Frederick County; Margaret Jurgensen, Election
Director, Montgomery County; Ross Goldstein, Deputy Administrator, State
Board of Elections

Moderator: The Honorable Jon Cardin, Maryland House of Delegates

The election session will be held from 1:00-2:00 pm on Wednesday August 14 at the Ocean City Convention Center.

Register for the MACo Summer Conference via the MACo website.