 ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said yesterday that he would like to scrap electronic voter databases to avoid an Election Day debacle similar to last week's problems in the primaries -- and he threatened to reconvene the Democrat-controlled legislature to make paper ballots an alternative. "Potentially we need to convene a special session. That's one option here," said Mr. Ehrlich, a Republican seeking re-election.
| Bob hasn't had good luck with the special session idea in the past, however. And he's noticed. |
One of the governor's top aides downplayed the likelihood of such a move, because the governor would not be allowed to campaign during a special session. State Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Prince George's Democrat, said a special session is unnecessary.
| "Tut tut! Totally unnecessary!" |
In addition, House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Anne Arundel Democrat, said current election law allows paper ballots to be used.
| "Nope. Nope. No need to do anything at all!" |
But Mr. Ehrlich maintained that a special session is on the table after hearing testimony from state elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone. The governor summoned Mrs. Lamone to testify at yesterday's Board of Public Works meeting to account for problems that prevented some voters from casting primary ballots in Baltimore and in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. "The bottom line to this whole thing is in 48 days we're going to have a general election, and we literally cannot afford to see take place the events that took place [last week]," Mr. Ehrlich told Mrs. Lamone. |