In response to a lawsuit brought by the National Federation of the Blind, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett has ordered the State Board of Elections (SBE) to implement on online ballot marking tool for the upcoming November election. As reported by the Daily Record,
Bennett wrote that Maryland’s absentee ballot voting program violates the plaintiffs’ rights under the American with Disabilities Act. He wrote that’s because it doesn’t ensure plaintiffs’ rights to vote privately and independently.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the SBE attempted to certify the online ballot marking tool at two previous meetings. In the April meeting, election officials cited security concerns when considering the tool. During the July meeting, the tool was not certified based on a technicality in the board rules.
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