As we reported last week, anti-equality forces in Maryland submitted more than the required amount of signatures to the state elections officials; authorities validated most of the signatures on Thursday night, pretty much making it official that the rights of a minority group will go up for a majority vote in Maryland come fall. 

According to the Washington Post:

As of late Thursday afternoon, 70,039 signatures had been validated by local elections officials, exceeding the 55,736 required to put the measure on the ballot, according to an ongoing “unofficial” tally on the Maryland State Board of Elections Web site.

State Elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone said the statewide count has not yet been certified but that it “will probably go up” by the time that happens.

If the numbers hold, Maryland voters will be asked in November if they want to uphold a law passed this year that allows gay nuptials. The measure, which was signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) in March, narrowly passed the House of Delegates after falling short in that chamber the year before.

In response, the referendum's opposition, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, has announced that it has opened up two offices and hired more staff. 

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