Maryland House Of Delegates Expected To Vote On Same Sex Marriage Measure Friday Afternoon; Advocates Believe They Have Secured Votes Required For Majority

Maryland delegates are scheduled to take a final vote to legalize same sex marriage. Members of the House of Delegates considered a handful of amendments Friday afternoon and will convene for a final voting session at 4:30 pm EST. According to The Associated Press, Republicans speculated that proponents acquired the 71-vote majority required to pass the legislation. An amendment from Delegate Tiffany Alston, a Prince George’s Democrat who previously opposed to the bill, was accepted by the members, a move opponents suggested bought her vote. The body also added an amendment Thursday evening, altering the effective date of the bill from October, 2012 to January, 2013. Delegate Wade Kach, a Republican from Baltimore County, said earlier in that day that his support of the bill was contingent the acceptance of that amendment.