Md. Officials Encourage Early Voting

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Gov. Martin O'Malley and Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch are calling attention to the start of early voting.

The governor and the speaker appeared together Wednesday outside the Maryland State House to talk about the opportunity to start voting this week in primary races. Early voting begins on Thursday. People can vote early through June 19.

The primary is June 24.

The primary is unusually early this year in Maryland. The date was moved up from September to comply with federal rules requiring states to send members of the military and other Americans overseas ballots not later than 45 before a federal election.

O'Malley says it's important to remind people that the primary is early this year.