11,630

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THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Miller, do you have

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a further question?

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DELEGATE MILLER: I understand now that property

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ownership could not be required by the General Assembly

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as a condition for voting. Could it then be required as

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a condition for holding office?

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THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Koss?

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DELEGATE KOSS: Under the Maryland Constitution

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I think this is within the power of the General Assembly.

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THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Miller?

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Delegate Cardin.

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DELEGATE CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to

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answer Delegate Miller a little more clearly for myself.

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The courts have held that municipal elections,

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according to their own procedures, may have laws requiring

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property ownership. This is what we wish to delete, because

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we do have 21 such municipalities today that require anywhere

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from $100 to $500 real property onwership, and pay tax

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on them in order to have a right to the first vote.

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This is what this section is geared to do. We

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want to eliminate as a right to vote in Bel Air, Havre de