SNOW HILL — State prosecutors are investigating absentee ballots in connection with Worcester County's primary election, and county law enforcement and prosecutors are refusing to say what the investigation is about.Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd said he was "made aware" Sept. 10 of a "potential issue" with absentee ballots cast by voters in District 2, which covers Snow Hill and parts of central Worcester. He requested the election board have staffers handle absentee ballots with surgical gloves as not to impact evidentiary value.
Of the 701 absentee ballots applied for in Worcester, 517 have been returned to the Board of Elections. On Thursday, staffers turned over to detectives with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation144 envelopes returned by District 2 voters. The ballots themselves stayed with the Board of Elections.
Todd said the investigation is isolated to District 2 absentee ballots, and that he has "no reason to believe the Board of Elections has done anything wrong."
Todd said on primary day, Sept. 14, contacted the Office of the Maryland Attorney General for guidance. They in turn referred the case to the Office of the State Prosecutor, who will now be handling the still-undefined investigation.
He declined to speak further about what he called an ongoing investigation. The chief investigator with the state prosecutor's office, Jim Cabezas, also declined to comment.
This will be the third time this has happened in Worcester county. Hopefully this time we will get legitmate answers as to why more people vote absentee in some areas than vote in person.
ReplyDelete