For mail-in ballots, the shot clock never runs out for Democrats in Annapolis

For mail-in ballots, the shot clock never runs out for Democrats in Annapolis

Screen shot of Sen. Cheryl Kagan during Feb. 9 floor debate on SB163 about mail-in voting.

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In an article by Bennett Leckrone for Maryland Matters, we find out that the Republican efforts to amend a bill, SB163, that would allow Marylanders a second chance to sign a mail-in ballot oath, required for their vote to be counted on all mail-in ballots in the State of Maryland, failed. This should not come as a surprise to the electorate who have come to expect this kind of response from the Democratic majority in the state legislature.

I am old enough to remember the 1972 Olympics and the basketball game between the Soviet Union and the U.S.A. The game ended with the Americans winning by 1 point after the Soviet team failed in the last 3 seconds of the game to score the winning basket.

But the officials calling the game decided to change the rules on the spot and give the Soviet Team, yet another try to win the game. They reset the clock at 3 seconds, started the game and again the Russians failed to sink the winning basket. And again, the officials intervened … and yet again, the clock was reset to 3 seconds and for a third time, the Soviets tried to score … and this time, they did score, thereby winning the gold and defeating the U.S.A. for the first time in their Olympic participation. Lesson Learned:  Give them enough shots at the basket and they will eventually get the outcome they seek even if it means twisting the rules to do it.

The mail-in ballot is now a thing!

It’s 2022 in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland, the mail-in ballot has become a thing! For some reason, the healthy, strong and diverse population is unable or unwilling to get off their collective bottoms and go to the polls to vote. So … the mail-in ballot is now a thing! And just to make sure that it is a thing that ensures the Democrats can maximize their votes, SB163, sponsored by Sen. Cheryl Kagan, D-Montgomery, includes several reforms aimed at mail-in ballots.

Kagan’s bill would allow local boards of elections to begin processing mail-in ballots eight days before early voting … although local election officials wouldn’t be able to release any preliminary mail-in ballot results until after polls close on Election Day. Imagine that! They can’t release ANY of the results until the polls close on Election Day! OH SURE … they won’t … NOT!

Under current Maryland law, voters who don’t sign the oath on a mailed-in ballot have their ballot automatically rejected. Under Kagan’s bill, voters would be allowed to provide a signature via “a digital picture message” by phone or email, an online portal, by text message, by mail or by an in?person visit to their local board of elections’ office. RIGHT! What could possibly go wrong here?!

But Kagan was not finished quite yet! Her bill would require local boards of elections to notify voters about the need for a signature within three days after an election official discovers the error AND voters would have to correct the error by 10 a.m. on the tenth day after the election.  Do you get the picture?! No signature … No problem … we will fix it no matter how many times we need to shoot — because we can shoot for the basket until we score – even if it takes until 10 days after the election – 10 DAYS!

Now, you might think that such measures would not be necessary in such a “blue” state like Maryland, and they probably are not! But Kagan’s bill is a clear demonstration of a seizure of power and serves as the insurance that the State House and legislature will be forever in the grasp of the Democrats!

The 2020 election with all of its mail-in ballot controversy taught us nothing. There is little doubt that we are losing our republic as predicted by Benjamin Franklin all those many years ago.

“A lady asked Dr. Franklin, “Well Doctor, what have we got … a republic or a monarchy? “A republic,” replied the Doctor, “if you can keep it.” … AND … the Dems keep shooting baskets!

About The Author

Marc King

mking@kgventrp.com

Marc A. King was a 2018 Republican nominee for a seat in the Maryland Legislature from Legislative District 15. Marc has continued his political activism by providing blogs related to a variety of political activities at the federal, state and local level. A retired Army lieutenant colonel, he transitioned from the position of President, Ceradyne Armor Systems, Inc., and provides advice and assistance to defense contractors as the President and CEO of KGV Enterprises, LLC, a defense strategies consultancy.

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