Federal case continues for online ballot tool

BALTIMORE (AP) — Testimony is in its last scheduled day in a federal lawsuit over Maryland’s refusal to implement an online ballot-marking tool for the blind.

Maryland Assistant Attorney General Dan Friedman argued Tuesday in Baltimore that the state shouldn’t be forced to use a ballot system that hasn’t been certified by the Maryland State Board of Elections.

A board vote in July fell one short of the number needed to certify the tool.

The National Federation of the Blind contends Maryland is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to safeguard the privacy of blind voters. Lawyers for the group say the tool would remedy that.

The lawsuit is opposed by the Maryland chapter of the American Council of the Blind. The council says the online tool is susceptible to fraud.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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