By Melissa J. Brachfeld

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Maryland senate version of the "paper trail" bill, legislation that would give voters a paper receipt after casting a vote, was proposed last Tuesday with wide support from both Democrats and Republicans, pulling in 23 co-sponsors of the bill from both parties.

According to TrueVoteMD, a grassroots organization in favor of paper voting receipts, all members of the Senate committee responsible for election issues support the bill. They said on the House side, delegates are expressing confidence that the legislation will pass in a near unanimous vote. Civic organizations covering a wide range of interests also support voter verified paper ballot legislation.

The bill would require all voting machines to have a voter verified paper trail, i.e. paper voting receipts, which supporters say would provide for added security and would also allow for a recount if necessary.

Del. Pauline Menes (D-Prince George's County) said she knows some delegates who are avidly in support of the legislation, but that she could not speak for the whole general assembly. She said the passage of the bill would depend on public hearings and what the Maryland State Board of Elections and county board of elections will have to say about the legislation.

Del. Menes herself said there are issues to weigh, such as the cost of implementing a voter verified paper trail, and that she would like to learn more about it before she reaches a decision.

"I would like to feel that we have the most secure voting system available, though," Del. Menes said.

"Maryland is on the verge of enacting legislation that will ensure transparent elections that voters can trust," Bob Ferraro of TrueVoteMD said. "When [this bill] becomes law Maryland will move from a state with the least secure and least transparent election system to a state with one of the most secure and transparent systems."

"The widespread support for this bill in Maryland – inside the legislature and out – shows the state has come together in support of the basic proposition that voters should be able to trust that their votes are counted as case," Linda Schade of TrueVoteMD said. "We applaud Del. Hixson and Sen. Hollinger for showing leadership on this issue."

The list of statewide organizations supporting paper ballot legislation has grown considerably this year, TrueVoteMD said, with 25 major statewide groups in favor of paper ballot legislation. They include: American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, American Council of the Blind of Maryland, Anne Arundel Peace Action, Baltimore Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Common Cause Maryland and several others.