"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW, WHICH IS AN INCREASINGLY SMALL PART OF THE ELECTION PROCESS.

ALREADY, A MILLION MARYLANDERS HAVE CAST BALLOTS IN EARLY VOTING.

AND HUNDREDS OF TO USES OF OTHER HAVE RETURNED ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

JOINING US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MODERN PROCESS OF VOTING AND COUNTING VOTES IS STRAIGHT ADMINISTRATOR OF ELECTIONS, JARED DEMARINIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: I IMAGINE YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO TONIGHT.

>> .

>> I DO BUT I HAVE GREAT STAFF AND ELECTION DIRECTORS HANDLING EVERYTHING SO I CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THE IDEA THAT THE ELECTION IS HALF OVER IS SO WEIRD TO ME, A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, OLD TIMER WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING.

AND MORE THAN 50% OF THE BALLOTS THAT WILL BE CAST IN MARYLAND ARE ALREADY IN.

YOU'VE GOT THEM.

>> WELL, THAT'S IF ONLY THREE MILLION PEOPLE VOTE.

WE HAVE 4.2 MILLION I WANT ALL TO VOTE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 38%.

SO I'M LOOKING AT 62.

SO IN 2020 THAT WAS THE MOST MARYLANDERS THAT VOTED GROSS.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SURPASS THAT.

THERE IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AND EXCITEMENT HERE.

BUT I WANT TO HAVE HIGH RNGHTS HIGH VOTER TURNOUT PERCENTAGE AS WELL CLOSE TO 100% AS POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: FOR ANYBODY WATCHING WHO IS HEARING YOUR PEP TALK ON VOTING, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED YET OR REGISTERED, ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW.

SO IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

MARYLAND IS THE SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION STATE.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THE ADVANCED DEADLINE BUT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

GO TO A POLLING PLACE THAT YOU CAN LOOK UP ON OUR WEBSITE THAT IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SHOW UP WITH SOME FORM OF ID THAT PROVES RESIDENCY.

AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE, REGISTER AND VOTE ON THE SAME DAY.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROCESS SO FAR THAT SURPRISES YOU?

THE NUMBER OF EARLY VOTES?

MAIL-IN VOTES OR WHATEVER?

>> I THINK THE MAIL-IN VOTING HAS SURPRISED ME A LITTLE BIT.

SINCE COVID, IT HAS YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT 2020 WAS COVID AND WE ARE NOW IN A NEW PHASE OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION POST COVID TO SEE HOW MARYLANDERS LIKE AND HOW THEY WANT TO VOTE.

PRIOR TO IT, IT WAS FIVE TO 6% MAIL-IN THAT RANGE.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A THIRD TO 40%.

IT WAS THE SECOND MOST POPULAR CHOICE IN THE PRIMARY OF THIS YEAR.

ALMOST RIVALLING ELECTION DAY ITSELF.

SO IT IS HERE TO STAY.

AND I THINK AND YOU SAW THAT IN-PERSON IS ALSO VERY POPULAR ELECTION DAY WITH A MILLION PEOPLE VOTING THERE AS WELL.

YOU'VE HAD ABOUT OVER 870,000 REQUESTS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS A MILLION PEOPLE VOTING IN-PERSON EARLY.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

>> Jeff: AND MARYLAND IS A STATE NOT EVERYBODY DOES THIS, WHERE THE RESULTS OF THE EARLY VOTING AND THE MAIL-IN VOTING WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW NIGHT IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE.

>> YES.

>> Jeff: BUT YOU CAN'T READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT.

>> YES.

SO RIGHT.

ON ELECTION NIGHT WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE WE WILL TABULATE ALL THE IN-PERSON SO THE MILLION VOTES DONE IN-PERSON, THAT WILL BE TABULATED, AND WE HAVE STARTED CANVASING SOME OF THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

BECAUSE THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO HAVE A WINNER OR LOSER TO DECLARED ON ELECTION NIGHT.

BY RELEASING AS MANY BALLOTS AS POSSIBLE, WE'LL GIVE IT THE PRESS AND EVERYONE ELSE THEY CAN DECLARE WINNERS AND LOSERS.

WE WILL KEEP COUNTING AFTERWARDS BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO COUNT EVERY BALLOT.

>> Jeff: IMPORTANTLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY, I STARTED TO DO THE MATH BASED ON FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN ALSO WE HAD LIKE A MILLION PEOPLE DOING EARLY VOTING.

BUT IT MAY BE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAD BEEN SUSPICIOUS OF EARLY VOTING.

NOW THEIR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE IS ENCOURAGING IT.

SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT WE SAW FOUR YEARS AGO IN THE HEAT OF THE PANDEMIC, MAYBE DIFFERENT THIS TIME?

>> I THINK SO.

2020 IS AN OUTLIER OF AN ELECTION BECAUSE IT WAS COVID AND THE GENERAL ELECTION YOU HAD THE POST COVID FEEL SO MAYBE MORE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE VOTED BY MAIL.

NOW THEY MIGHT BE SHIFTING BACK TO IN-PERSON ELECTION DAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS, TOO, WITH MAIL IS THAT WE HAVE HAD A PERMANENT MAIL-IN BALLOT LIST.

WE NOW KNOW THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT WANTS TO ALWAYS HAVE THEIR BALLOTS DELIVERED THAT WAY.

I THINK, YEAH, YOU KNOW, 2020 IS AN OUTLIER AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

>> Jeff: REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT STATE ELECTIONS, TYPE IT UP AND SEND US AN E-MAIL AT LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

WHAT DO YOU WANT MARYLAND VOTERS TO KNOW?

>> THAT POLLS OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. AND CLOSE AT 8:00 P.M.

TOMORROW.

IF COME OUT.

IT IS A GORGEOUS DAY.

WE HAVE GREAT WEATHER I'M QUITE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND IF YOU HAVE MAIL-IN BALLOT IN YOUR HOUSE PLEASE VOTE THE MAIL-IN BALLOT THERE'S 286 DROP BOXES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

YOU CAN PUT IT IN ONE OF THEM BEFORE 8:00 P.M. OR IF YOU WANT TO USE THE POSTAL SERVICE MAKE SURE IT GETS POSTMARKED TOMORROW EARLY SO YOU TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE SURE THE PICKUP IS GOING TO OCCUR BEFORE YOU PUT IS IN THE POSTAL SERVICE THERE.

AND WE WILL COUNT THAT BALLOT EVEN IF IT COMES IN AFTER ELECTION DAY AS LONG AS IT'S POSTMARKED ON ELECTION DAY.

>> Jeff: RUMOR CONTROL IS A FUNCTION OF YOUR OFFICE.

IS THERE ANYTHING GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AND THERE WAS PRESS RELEASED TODAY ABOUT BALLOT MARKING DEVICES.

YOU TALK ABOUT THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO CLEAR UP?

>> OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS DISINFORMATION THAT GOES ON.

AND I'VE TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH WITH DISINFORMATION.

ALONG WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE CREATED A DISINFORMATION PORTAL ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO IT IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT BECAUSE, I ALWAYS LOOK AT IT AS A HUGE WAVE THAT IS CRASHING DOWN ON ME.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO BATTLE IT BACK.

BUT I NEED VOTERS TO HELP MONITOR THEIR PLATFORMS BECAUSE THEIR FEEDS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MINE.

AND THEY GET DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT IS DISSEMINATED TO THEM.

RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE BIGGER THINGS IS THIS IDEA THAT A BALLOT MARKING DEVICE WHICH IS BASICALLY, ELECTRONIC PEN, BECAUSE YOU ARE THERE ON THE MACHINE CLICKING YOUR CHOICES.

>> Jeff: WHO DOES THAT?

>> THE VOTER DOES.

>> Jeff: EVERY VOTER?

>> A VOTER HAS A CHOICE WHEN THEY GO INTO THE POLLING PLACE THEY CAN USE THE PAPER BALLOT AND FILL IN THE OVALS THEMSELVES OR GO TO AND USE A BALLOT MARKING DEVICE, WHICH THEY GET A PIECE OF PAPER AND IT GOES INTO IT AND THEY USE A TOUCH SCREEN TO MAKE SURE SELECTIONS.

IT'S FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, BUT FOR ANYBODY AS WELL TO USE THOSE MACHINES.

AS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THERE'S MORE CANDIDATES OWE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO HIT THE MORE BUTTON AND FINGERS SLIP AND IT IS A TOUCH SCREEN.

AS FINGERS SLIP, IT WILL BEFORE THEY CAST IT, WHICH IS EVEN PRINT TO GO OUT IS NOT CASTING IT UNTIL IT GOES THROUGH THE SCANNER AND GOES INTO THE TABULATOR.

THAT IS WHEN IT BECOMES A COUNTED BALLOT.

THERE WILL BE A REVIEW SCREEN PRIOR TO THEM PRINTING IT OUT WHERE THEY CAN CHECK AND SAY, WAIT A SECOND, THAT IS MY WRONG CHOICE.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT CONTEST AND IT GOES BACK AND MAKE THE CORRECT SELECTION.

OR WHEN YOU PRINTOUT THE BALLOT, AGAIN, TO REVIEW IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE BEFORE YOU PUT IT IN THE SCANNER, I MADE A MISTAKE LIKE IF YOU PAID A MISTAKE WITH FILLING IN THE VOW VALES YOU GET AN ELECTION JUDGE AND SPOIL THAT BALLOT AND GIVE YOU A NEW ONE TO START AGAIN.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS A COMPLAINT FROM A COUNTY LEVEL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE THAT WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF BALLOTS BEING TRANSPORTED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT STEP OF THE PROCESS, BUT DO WE HAVE ADEQUATE SECURITY FOR CAST BALLOTS?

>> YES.

I MEAN, WE TAKE THE COLLECTION OF OUR BALLOTS FROM THE DROP BOXES SERIOUSLY.

WE HAVE IN PLACE.

AND LOCAL OFFICIALS AND DIRECTORS THAT ARE PART OF THE PROCESS TAKE OATHS TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION.

AND THEY ALSO ARE HIRED BY BIPARTISAN, I WOULD SAY BOARDS OF ELECTION AS WELL.

IT IS A NONPARTISAN ACTIVITY FOR THE TRANSPORT THE BALLOT DROP BOXES THEMSELVES ARE UNDER 24 HOUR SEVEN DAY A WEEK VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.

AND THE COLLECTION ROUTES ARE WITH STAFF OR WITH TEAMS.

AND SO MARYLANDERS CAN FEEL SAFE AND SECURE THAT WHEN THEY USE THAT AS AN OPTION FOR MAIL-IN VOTING, THAT IT'S CORRECT.

>> Jeff: VIEWER QUESTION.

THIS IS FRANK HE WANTS TO KNOW IF A WINNER IS DECLARED AND VOTE COUNTING IS UNDERWAY, DO ALL BALLOTS CAST STILL GET COUNTED?

OR DOES THE COUNTING STOP?

NOW, YOU ARE NOT DECLARING WINNERS TOMORROW.

>> NO.

WE NEVER DECLARE WINNERS TOMORROW.

>> Jeff: IF THE PRESS DOES YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.

>> THOSE ARE UNOFFICIAL WE KEEP ON COUNTING.

EVERY VOTE CAST WE COUNT.

THE LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS WON'T CERTIFY THEIR COUNTIES UNTIL NOVEMBER 15TH.

AND THEN THE STATE WILL CERTIFY ON DECEMBER FIFTH.

SO WE MAKE SURE EVERY BALLOT THAT HAS BEEN CAST WILL BE COUNTED.

>> Jeff: I THINK THERE WAS AN ISSUE LAST ELECTION OR THE PREVIOUS ONE, MARYLAND HAD MAYBE 100 COUNTS OF DOUBLE VOTING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE FINAL DETERMINATION MAYBE SUSPICION OF THAT.

DO WE DO ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CANNOT POSSIBLY VOTE TWICE?

>> YES.

DURING EARLY VOTING OUR POLL BOOKS ARE MAKING SURE THEY ARE CONNECTED IF A PERSON SHOWS UP IN ONE EARLY VOTING LOCATION, AND GOES TO ANOTHER ONE, IT WILL POP-UP AND SAY THAT THIS PERSON HAS ALREADY VOTED.

IF YOU'VE REQUESTED A MAIL-IN BALLOT AND SHOW UP AT THE POLLS IT WILL THE POLL BOOKS WILL NOTIFY THE JUDGE THAT YOU HAVE A BALLOT.

AT WHICH POINT HERE, YOU WILL BE VOTING PROVISIONALLY.

NOW, THE PROVISIONAL BALLOT IS GOING TO BE CANVASSED AFTER ELECTION DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE NOT CAST ANOTHER BALLOT.

IF YOU'VE HAD A MAIL-IN BALLOT THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND WE'VE SEE THAT, THEN WE WILL NOT COUNT THE PROVISIONAL BALLOT.

AT THE END IF YOU'VE NEVER CASTED ANOTHER BALLOT WE WILL COUNT THE PROVISIONAL.

>> Jeff: I HAVE A SECOND OR TWO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE I VOTED STICKER.

I DON'T SEE YOU WEARING ONE.

HAVE YOU VOTED?

>> I HAVE VOTED.

JARED DEMARINIS THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND VOTERLERS DECIDE QUESTION ONE WHICH WOULD ADD ABORTION RIGHTS TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION WE WILL TALK WITH AN OPPONENT COMING UP.

BUT WE BEGIN WITH OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH REFERENDUM SUPPORTER, COMPTROLLER BROOKE LIERMAN.

>> AS A WOMAN, AS A MARYLANDER, I KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WOMEN HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

AND OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS.

WHETHER THAT IS ABORTION, BIRTH CONTROL OR IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND THIS AMENDMENT WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE CONSTITUTION ENSHRINES THOSE RIGHTS FOR ALL TIME TO COME.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT VOTERS WE KNOW 70% OF MARYLAND VOTERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY SUPPORT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER HER OWN BODY AND THIS IS THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE CONSTITUTION HAS THAT IN IT AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?

I MEAN STATE LAW IS CLEAR ON ABORTION RIGHTS.

WE HAD A REFERENDUM.

IT WAS A FEW DECADES AGO.

BUT IS THIS SORT OF A LIKE BELT AND SUSPENDERS APPROACH?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT EVERY YEAR, LEGISLATORS SHOW UP TO ANNAPOLIS AND EVERY YEAR THEY PASS NEW LAWS THAT SUPERSEDE OLDER LAWS.

BUT WHEN YOU PUT SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS AND WHEN THEY ENSHRINE IT IN YOUR CONSTITUTION, IT SENDS A STRONGER MESSAGE AND IT IS A STRONGER PROTECTION.

AND SO THIS TIME, AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE SEE WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE RIGHTS BEING THREATENED.

THIS IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT MARYLAND IS GOING DOING ALL THAT IT CAN TO SAY NOPE, WE SUPPORT WOMEN HAVING AUTHORITY OVER THEIR OWN BODIES.

AND MAKING THEIR HEALTHCARE DECISIONS.

YOU KNOW, SO MANY OTHER STATES AREN'T DOING THAT THEY ARE GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY.

>> Jeff: SOME CYNICS AROUND THE STATE HOUSE MIGHT HAVE SPECULATED THAT THIS WAS PUT FORTH AS A WAY TO MAYBE INCREASE THE MOTIVATION FOR SOME DEMOCRATIC LEANING VOTERS TO GET OUT AND VOTE IN AN IMPORTANT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.

IS IT POSSIBLE IT'S GOING TO DO THAT?

DO YOU THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR WHOM THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, DO YOU THINK MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WILL VOTE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS PASSED WHEN IT WAS PUT THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT COULD BE ON THE BALLOT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO BE RUNNING.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO WOULD BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

SO I THINK THAT IS A VERY CYNICAL TAKE.

I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO MAKE SURE ONCE AND FOR ALL IN MARYLAND LAW THAT WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE THEIR OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE CHOICES.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER POINT FROM THE OPPONENTS OF THIS, THEY SAY THAT THE TERM REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS VAGUE AND THEY BELIEVE IT COULD BE READ TO ALLOW GENDER RELATED SURGERY AND OTHER TYPES OF MEDICAL CARE FOR MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

>> I THINK THAT'S JUST A SCARE TACTIC, HONESTLY.

IF YOU READ THE LANGUAGE, WHICH I HAVE, IT'S CLEAR IT'S MEANT TO ENCOMPASS ABORTION, ALSO BIRTH CONTROL, AND THEN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE INTERPRETED IN THE LANGUAGE.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT IS A SCARE TACTIC.

>> Jeff: IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT BASICALLY OVERTURNED THE ROE VS. WADE DECISION WITH THE DOBBS CASE.

AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN MARYLAND.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO FIND A STATE WHERE ABORTION RIGHTS HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED.

WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> YOU KNOW, I SEE WOMEN IN HARM'S WAY.

WOMEN WHO MANY OF WHOM ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN WHO NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR BODILY RIGHTS.

WE KNOW THAT IN 22, THIS IS NOT JUST A HANDFUL OF STATES, 22 STATES, NOW BAN ABORTION OR RESTRICT THE PROCEDURE EARLIER IN PREGNANCY THAN THE STANDARDS SET BY ROE VS. WADE.

22 STATES.

AND I AM I PERSONALLY FIND IT DEVASTATING.

WE SEE STORIES ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN BLEEDING OUT IN PARKING LOTS.

RECENTLY, JUST TRAGIC STORIES OF WHAT HAPPENEDDED IN GEORGIA TO TWO WOMEN MOTHERS, WHO CHOSE TO END THEIR PREGNANCY EARLY AND COULDN'T GET THE CARE THEY NEEDED AND DIED.

AND THIS IS TERRIFYING, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND TRAGIC THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN 2024.

AND SO CERTAINLY, I AM DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT I LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND THIS STATE MAKE SURE THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS MORE RIGHTS THAN RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE UNTIL I'VE RESTORED THESE RIGHTS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SCARY NOW THAT SO MANY RIGHTS FOR WOMEN ARE BEING RESTRICTED AND WE'RE BEING TOLD HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN TERMS OF OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.

>> Jeff: IT'S PRETTY HARD TO CHANGE SOMEBODY'S MIND ON A MATTER OF MORALITY.

IF YOU WERE TALKING TO A VOTER WHO WAS MAYBE UNDECIDED ON THIS, MAYBE THEIR PART OF THE MAJORITY THAT SUPPORTS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE IN THE FIRST TRY MFTERS BUT NOT SURE ABOUT IT LATER IN PREGNANCY POLLS INDICATE IS THE CASE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT VOTER?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN TO ARE HAVERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE DIRE CONSEQUENCEINGS THAT WOMEN HAVE FACE WHERE THE BANS ARE ENACTED.

IT IS NOT THEORETICAL.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY THIS COULD HAPPEN IF ROE VS. WADE IS OVERTURNED.

WE CAN LOOK AT STATES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT HAPPENED TO WOMEN THERE AND HOW TRAGIC THAT IS.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN, AND WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM IN STATES WHERE THEIR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S NOT A THEORETICAL ANYMORE.

>> Jeff: COMPTROLLER BROOKE LIERMAN WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND JOINING US NOW IS AN OPPONENT OF QUESTION ONE, DEBORAH BROCATO, IS THE CHAIR OF HEALTH NOT HARM MARYLAND.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS WITH QUESTION ONE.

>> YEAH.

WE FORMED THIS ORGANIZATION IT'S ACTUALLY A BALLOT ISSUE COMMITTEE REGISTERED WITH THE MARYLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS, TO OPPOSE QUESTION ONE, THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AMENDMENT.

THE REASON WE OPPOSE QUESTION ONE IS BECAUSE IT GOES WELL BEYOND ABORTION IN MARYLAND.

THE ALLEGHENY OF THE BILL IS VERY VAGUE.

AND IT IS ACTUALLY THE LAW THAT PUT THE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT IS LESS THAN TWO PAGES.

THERE ARE NO DEFINITIONS AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF BROAD WORDING INTO THIS AMENDMENT.

THE ACTUAL AMENDMENT SAYS THAT EVERY PERSON AS A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF ON INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS TO LIBERTY AND EQUALITY, HAS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS TO PREVENT CONTINUE OR END ONE'S OWN PROGRESSSY AND THE STATE MAY NOT INTERFERE WITH THAT RIGHT OR LANGUAGE.

FIRST OF ALL, IT SAYS THAT EVERY PERSON.

IT DOESN'T SAY EVERY ADULT PERSON OR EVERY PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 18.

AND IT USES THE WORD INDIVIDUAL.

PERSONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE BOTH MALE AND FEMALE AND ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

THE AMENDMENT ITSELF DOESN'T USE THE WORD WOMAN OR ABORTION.

IT DOESN'T SAY EVERY WOMAN.

SO AND WHEN THE SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS TRIED TO PUT IN LANGUAGE TO REALLY NARROW THIS AMENDMENT TO JUST BE ABOUT ABORTION, THAT LANGUAGE WAS REJECTED.

THEY TRIED TO PUT IN MINIMUM AGE LIMITS OR EXCLUDE MINORS OR REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT AND ALL OF THAT LANGUAGE WAS REJECTED.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN BUT IT WAS NOT.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO FROM YOUR STANDPOINT IF IT IS ULTIMATELY INTERPRETED BY A COURT AS YOU SUGGEST?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE FACT THAT PARENTS MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT TO PARENT THEIR CHILDREN IS A PROBLEM.

BUT WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE PARENTS ARE LOSING CUSTODY OF THEIR KIDS IF THEY DON'T GO ALONG WITH THEIR WISHES.

SO OUR CONCERN IS THAT PARENTS WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT RIGHT OR FIGHT FOR CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN AND OUR CONCERN WITH OUT MINIMUM AGE LIMITS CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND OBTAIN DRUGS OR SURGERIES THAT PERMANENTLY ALTER THEIR BODIES.

CHILDREN ARE TOO YOUNG TO GIVE INFORMED CONSENT THEY DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND WE SEE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE THE SAME CAPACITY AS ADULTS TO MAKE DECISIONS.

SO THEY TREAT MINOR CHILDREN AS JUVENILES AS THEY SHOULD IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YET HERE, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW CHILDREN TO MAKE ACT AS ADULTS IN MAKING DECISIONS THAT WILL PERMANENTLY ALTER THEIR BODIES.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND HAD AN ABORTION REFERENDUM BACK IN THE 1990s THAT WAS HOTLY DEBATED.

MUCH MORE ATTENTION THAN THIS QUESTION IS GETTING.

PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO THINK THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS IN MARYLAND MIGHT HAVE DEGRADED OVER TIME?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

AND THAT LAW THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT, YOU ARE RIGHT IT WENT TO REFERENDUM IN '92.

AND 62% OF MARYLANDERS VOTED FOR THAT LAW.

THAT LAW HAS ALLOWED ABORTION THROUGH BIRTH IN MARYLAND.

IT'S UNRESTRICTED.

WE HAVE TWO ALL TRIMESTER ABORTION CLINICS ONE IN BETHESDA AND THE ABORTION CARE ACCESS WAS PASSED AND IT REQUIRES THAT MEDICAID AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVER ALL EXPENSES FOR ABORTION.

IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

WE HAVE A VETO PROOF MAJORITY FOR ABORTION SUPPORT IN MARYLAND.

AND THAT SO A VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT WON'T CHANGE ANY OF THOSE LAWS AT ALL.

BUT A VOTE YES WILL GIVE CHILDREN THE SAME RIGHTS AS ADULTS TO PURSUE ANY TYPES OF DRUG AND SURGERIES RELATED TO THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND ANATOMY.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ON THE FEBRUARIES?

>> WE FEEL THIS IS A COMMON SENSE ISSUE FOR EVERYONE.

WHETHER YOU ARE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE, EVERYONE CARES ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES.

AND EVERYONE THINKS THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION DECISIONS.

NO ONE WANTS OTHER PEOPLE OTHER RAN DOME ADULTS INTERFERING WITH THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

>> Jeff: THE POLLING ON THIS IS PRETTY CONSISTENT THAT SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE THIS DECISION IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER THE NUMBERS CHANGE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE THIRD TRIMIDWESTER AND IT IS LESS POPULAR.

IN YOU HAVE A VOTER IN FRONT OF YOU WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO TELL THEM THAT YOU SEE IN THIS ISSUE THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T?

>> WELL, WHEN AN ABORTION OCCURS IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE IN MARYLAND BECAUSE IT IS UNRESTRICTED.

ABORTION THROUGH BIRTH IS PERMITTED IN MARYLAND.

AN UNDECIDED VOTER I WOULD ASK THEM IF THEY THINK IT IS OKAY FOR I A14-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO GO AND GET A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM THEIR PARENTS OR A 10-YEAR-OLD GOING TO GET PUBERTY BLOCKERS WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM THEIR PARENTS.

>> Jeff: WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ABORTION AT THIS POINT.

>> RIGHT.

BECAUSE ABORTION IS PROTECTED AND FULLY FUNDED IN LAW IN MARYLAND.

THIS AMENDMENT IS REALLY ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND PARENTAL RIGHTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

DON'T FALL FOR THE BAIT AND SWITCH.

THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD GET THIS THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE SENTIMENTS IN MARYLAND THAT ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL AND SHOULD BE UNRESTRICTED.

IT ALREADY IS.

>> Jeff: MORE INFORMATION ON KEY RACES INCLUDING THE OPEN CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

CAN BE FOUND AT MPT.ORG/VOTE 2024.

TOMORROW NIGHT, THAT SITE WILL HAVE ELECTION RETURNS AND PBS NEWS ELECTION COVERAGE.

THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M. NOW, FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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