BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The state of Maryland is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that the state must implement an online ballot-marking tool to enable blind residents to vote privately and independently.

Attorneys for the state filed notice Monday they are appealing in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.

The National Federation of the Blind sued the state of Maryland in the case. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett ruled that Maryland was in violation of the American with Disabilities Act. He ordered the state to implement the ballot-marking tool for November’s elections.

Attorneys for the state argued during a bench trial that Maryland should not be forced to implement a voting tool that has not been certified by the Maryland State Board of Elections.

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