The House of Delegates just passed 85-56 to repeal the death penalty.
This follows the Senate's vote of 27-20. Two Republicans — Sens. Edward R. Reilly of Anne Arundel County and Allan H. Kittleman of Howard County — joined 25 Democrats in supporting repeal. Ten Democrats and 10 Republicans opposed the legislation.
The bill now goes to Gov. O'Malley, who has been slowly pushing the repeal since he came into office.
Also at hand during the votes was Marylander Kirk Bloodsworth, the first American sentenced to death row who was exonerated by DNA fingerprinting.
Five states - Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and New Jersey - have repealed the death penalty since 2007, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. A total of 17 U.S. states have put an end to state-sanctioned executions.
Maryland will soon make it 18.
Update
Baltimore Sun Reporter Erin Cox uploaded an unofficial roll call for how the House voted.
Of interest, it seems Del. Pat "Speak English!!" McDonough was absent from the vote. Lazy tea-hadist...