Maryland’s highest court to hear mail-in ballot counting dispute Friday

Maryland’s highest court will hear an appeal challenging the early start to mail-in ballot counting this fall. The Maryland Court of Appeals has set a hearing date for Friday to hear arguments from the Maryland State Board of Elections, which asked to begin counting ballots Oct. 1, and from Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox, who has challenged the move. Cox has argued that a court order allowing early counting would violate the state constitution.