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Committee hears bill to change how Maryland counts votes for 20‑year constitutional convention question
Summary
Delegate Kevin Hornberger presented HB 979 to count the periodic constitutional convention ballot by a plurality of votes cast on the question rather than treating undervotes as no votes; witnesses from multiple parties and civic groups urged a favorable report, saying the current interpretation produced the 2010 failure despite more yes-than-no votes on the question itself.
Delegate Kevin Hornberger introduced House Bill 979 to the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, proposing that Maryland change how its 20-year constitutional convention ballot question is tallied. Under current state practice, an "undervote" — a voter who participates in the election but does not mark the constitutional convention question — has been treated in practice as a no vote; Hornberger's bill would instead determine the outcome by a plurality of votes cast on the question itself.
"This bill…
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