Question 1
Constitutional Amendment –
Early Voting; Polling Places; Absentee Ballots
Authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow qualified voters
to vote at polling places inside or outside of their election districts or wards
and to vote up to two weeks before an election. This amendment also
authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow absentee voting
by qualified voters who choose to vote by absentee ballot, in addition to
voters who are absent at the time of the election or who are unable to vote
personally.
Key points:
Early voting
1. Allow General Assembly to create legislation
2. Qualified voter
3. 14 day maximum window
4. Inside or outside of normal election district
Absentee Ballot
1. Allow General Assembly to create legislation
2. No excuse absentee voting
Non-candidate Ballot Items
November 4, 2008
•
•
•
•
Question 1: Early and absentee voting
Question 2: Slots
Question A: Passage of county ordinances
Question B: Appointment of Ethics Commission
Dan Nataf, Ph.D.
Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues
Anne Arundel Community College
www.aacc.edu/csli
October 14, 2008
States and In-person Early Voting
DC, KY, MN, VA
4
AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL
GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS,
LA, ME, MT, NE, NV,
NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, SD,
TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WI, WY
31
AL, CT, DE,MD, MA, MI, MS, MO,
NH, NJ, JY, OR, PA, RI,SC, WA
No in person or early voting
16
No excuse pre-Election day inperson voting
States and DC requirng an
excuse for in-person absentee
voting
States with In-person No Excuse Early Voting
Status by State
Early voting in person permitted
Early voting in person permitted with excuse
No early voting in person permitted
States and No Excuse Absentee Voting
22
28
States allowing noexcuse absentee voting
by mail
States and DC requiring
an excuse to vote
absentee by mail
States with No Excuse Absentee Voting
No excuse
absentee
Excused
absentee
Voting changes – pros and cons
Pros
1. Increases opportunities for greater voter participation
2. Less (or with absentee, no) waiting time for voters – fewer turn away
3. Verifiable paper ballot (now less of an issue with scanned ballots)
Cons
1. Voter fraud issue –
House Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) said
the amendment would allow people to vote whether they are
registered to vote or not. “Given that Maryland does not require
photo identification for voting, this provision is ripe for fraud.”
2. Possible issues with voters voting out of district, or not having a polling
station near their place of residence
3. Requires voters to make up their minds prior to the end of campaigns
4. Requires voters to decide prior to seeing all endorsements and
recommendations by newspapers
5. New events between early vote and election day might have changed voters’
minds, but it’s too late!
Question 2
Constitutional Amendment –
Authorizing Video Lottery Terminals (Slot Machines) to
Fund Education
Authorizes the State to issue up to five video lottery licenses for the primary purpose of
raising revenue for education of children in public schools, prekindergarten through 12,
public school construction and improvements, and construction of capital projects at
community colleges and higher education institutions. No more than a total number of
15,000 video lottery terminals may be authorized in the State, and only one license may be
issues for each specified location in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester, and Allegany Counties
and Baltimore City. Any additional forms or expansion of commercial gaming in Maryland
is prohibited, unless approved by a voter referendum.
Key points
1. 5 licenses in five counties plus Baltimore City
2. 15,000 total terminals
3. Primarily to raise revenue for education
4. Requires another referendum for any future expansion of gaming.
Presence of Slots by State
Slots, usually within casinos
No slots
Limited slots
Slots and Public Opinion
Spring 2008
The following questions deal with issues facing the state of Maryland
Proposal
Favor % Against No answer %
%
During the special session, the legislature
63
34
3
agreed to put a referendum on the November
ballot which would legalize slot machines at
five locations, including one within Anne
Arundel County in Laurel. At this time, would
you be likely to vote in favor or against this
referendum?
Slots and Public Opinion
Fall 2007
The state is facing a 1.7 billon dollar deficit in its current budget. Governor Martin O’Malley
has made several proposals to deal with this deficit. When I read you each of the proposals, tell
me whether you generally agree or disagree with it:
Proposal
Agree % Disagree% No answer
%
An increase in the sales tax from 5 to 6 percent
An increase in the car titling tax from 5 to 6 percent
34
34
63
63
3
3
An increase in the corporate income tax
A restructuring of state personal income tax, placing a
greater burden on those with incomes over $200,000
60
61
37
36
3
3
A reduction in the state property tax
Introduction of slot machines in Maryland
A one dollar increase in cigarette tax dedicated to paying
for increased health insurance coverage to the
uninsured.
71
61
70
25
34
28
4
5
2
Slots and Public Opinion
SPRING 2003
The governor has presented legislation that would allow slot machines at some Maryland racetracks. Please
answer the following questions regarding this proposal.
Do you agree or disagree…
Agree or Disagree Don’t
Yes % or No % know %
Do you think that horse racing in Maryland is an industry which should be
subsidized with earnings from slot machines?
Do you thinking that the gambling industry puts too much pressure for
passage of this legislation?
Do you think that gambling interests should be prohibited from making
political contributions?
Do you think that gambling is generally immoral?
Do you think that gambling addiction is a serious problem that will
accompany slots in Maryland?
Do feel that the possible economic benefits from slots are more or less
important than any possible negative social consequences?
Does the idea that Maryland loses revenue to neighboring states that have
legalized slots seem like a strong reason to approve it here?
Have you used slot machines during the last two years?
Have you played the “lotto” during the last two years?
Have you gambled at race tracks during the last two years?
Do you know anyone who has an addiction to any form of gambling?
Do you generally agree or disagree with the introduction of slot machines at
Maryland race tracks
N
46
47
6
336
44
46
10
336
56
38
6
332
20
48
78
47
2
5
334
333
52
39
9
333
64
32
4
332
41
61
14
27
69
58
38
86
72
29
0
0
0
1
2
333
333
332
333
332
Slots– pros and cons
Pros
1. Provides new funding source for education (48.5% of revenue)
2. Helps keep horse racing (and related industry) afloat ( up to $100 mn)
3. Captures gambling dollars leaving to Delaware, West Virginia, etc.
4. May provide economic development to areas where slots are found as well
during construction $200 mn +)
5. Avoids need to deal with adverse social consequences of gambling addiction
or impact on poor without having any revenue from activity
Cons
1. Funding goes to horse track owners, not just education
2. Slots funding may not increase overall education funding
3. Disproportionate negative impact on poor who don’t have to travel as far
4. Gambling addiction
5. Predecessor to casinos
6. “Slots free Maryland” – lessens touristic appeal
7. Avoids hard decisions – tax more to spend on education (etc.) or spend less
to limit expenditures
8. Moral and political corruption
9. Local impact – traffic, crime, - not fully compensated (local take $25 mn).
Question A
Charter Amendment –
Failure of Bills
To amend the Charter of Anne Arundel County to Clarify that any ordinance passed by
the County Council and returned unsigned by the County Executive after the ten day
presentation period will become law on the tenth day.
Key points
1. Automatic passage of laws by 10 days even if unsigned by County Executive
2. Avoids pocket veto
3. Strengthens County Council
Question B
Charter Amendment –
County Ethics Commission
To amend the Charter of Anne Arundel County to provide that the County Council
shall nominate for appointment by the County Executive three of the seven members
of the Ethics Commission.
Key points
1. Changes from all members nominated by County Executive with council O.K.
2. More checks and balances
3. Strengthens County Council – diminishes power of County Executive