Judge: Boards of elections can count mail-in ballots in October

A judge ruled Friday afternoon that Maryland boards of elections can start counting mail-in ballots before Election Day. The Maryland State Board of Elections filed an emergency petition to ask a judge to let local boards of election begin canvassing mail-in ballots in October instead of after the Nov. 8 election as mandated by state law. SBE said it's bracing for more than 1 million -- possibly 1.3 million -- people to cast their vote by mail in the 2022 general election. The judge agreed that if officials can't get a head start on the counting, it could delay the swearing-in of officials and erode public trust in the process.