4 Baltimore Precincts To Stay Open Late, All Maryland Returns Embargoed

Late voting will be allowed in four Baltimore precincts after a handful opened late Tuesday morning. All Maryland election results will be embargoed until those four precincts have closed, state elections officials say.

That's the result of an injunction hearing that was underway when an underground electrical fire caused the evacuation of Mitchell Courthouse in Baltimore. With the 8 p.m. poll closure nearing, Judge Althea Handy continued the hearing on the sidewalk and then in the courthouse garage before issuing the ruling.

These precincts will close at 9 p.m., instead of 8 p.m.:

John Eager Howard Center

Beth Am Synagogue

Oliver Multi Purpose Center

Pimlico Elementary School

Democrat Donna Edwards filed the injunction. Baltimore turnout is key in the campaign for U.S. Senate, in which she's running against Chris Van Hollen to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

"All citizens deserve equal rights and access to the polls. It is essential to our democracy that our election process be fair to all Marylanders," Van Hollen spokeswoman Bridgett Frey said. "Our goal is to ensure that all of our fellow citizens have the full and unrestricted right to participate in free elections."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.