Start of early ballot counting unsettled in Maryland pending outcome of legal challenge

A legal battle over when Maryland can begin counting mail-in ballots for the Nov. 8 election continued Wednesday with only days remaining until an anticipated early start date of Saturday set by a judge last week. Dan Cox, the Republican nominee for governor, filed Tuesday for an emergency stay of ballot counting across the state, arguing Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge James Bonifant’s order allowing early counting violates Maryland law.