Elections officials also are reminding people they must vote in the precinct where they reside. In the past, voters who showed up at the wrong polling place could fill out a provisional ballot and their votes for national or statewide candidates were counted.
But a recent ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals has restricted the use of provisional ballots.
Congressional races: Each of Maryland's eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives is up for grabs, though only the 1st District race - between Republican state Sen. Andy Harris and Democrat Frank Kratovil, the state's attorney for Queen Anne's County - is considered highly competitive.
The district, which includes the Eastern Shore as well as parts of Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties, has tended to vote Republican in statewide and national elections, but many observers now consider it a toss-up.
The contest has taken on many of the hard-knuckled themes in the presidential race. Harris has characterized his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal whose ideas are outside the conservative mainstream. Kratovil has accused his rival of lying and has seized on the economy as a top issue.
Yesterday, the two candidates made morning television appearances before canvassing the district.
In the other races, an incumbent sweep is expected among Democrats including Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who is heavily favored over Republican Michael Hargadon in the 7th district that includes parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard counties.
In the 6th district, a Republican stronghold in the western part of the state, Democrat Jennifer P. Dougherty, former mayor of Frederick, is seeking to upset Republican incumbent Roscoe Bartlett.
Two proposed constitutional amendments: Perhaps the most consequential regional issue on Maryland ballots this year is a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize slot-machine gambling in the state. If ratified by voters, the amendment would allow the establishment of 15,000 slot machine at sites across the state: in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester and Allegany counties. The more than $1 billion in anticipated revenues would go primarily to public education, gambling operators, the horse-racing industry and local governments.
