It’s hard to believe. Given that at this writing not all the candidate signs are posted, little campaign literature has surfaced, there is still Q&A to be dealt with in this paper, and the number of candidates running for city council has barely settled down, it’s hard to believe that Greenbelters will be able to start voting next week if they prefer not to go to the polling location in their precinct on Tuesday, November 5.
While voters will encounter no ballot issues to vote on this year and there may not be strong competition to determine who will serve on the council, those who vote in this election will likely determine which two candidates will serve as mayor and mayor pro tem. It is up to the newly-elected councilmembers to choose the mayor and mayor pro tem, but historically the council has followed the popular vote by electing the highest vote-getter mayor and the second highest mayor pro tem.
Most Greenbelt voters will continue to visit with neighbors and cast their ballots in the time-honored tradition at their precincts on Election Day. Those who prefer to vote earlier, or in the comfort of their own homes or using a paper ballot, have two other alternatives. Absentee voting by machine-readable paper ballot opens next Wednesday, October 16. Early voting, using the same type of scannable paper ballot, will open at various neighborhood polling places on Saturday, October 12.
Any qualified city voter who wishes to vote early or vote by mail may do so. It is no longer necessary for the voter to provide an excuse for not being able to go to the polls to vote on Election Day.
Absentee Voting
The first step in voting absentee is to apply for a ballot. The voter can print the application form from the city’s website at greenbeltmd.gov, pick one up at the city clerk’s office in the Municipal Building at 25 Crescent Road or call 301-474-8000 to have one mailed. In lieu of the form, a letter requesting an absentee ballot may be sent to the city clerk that includes the voter’s full name, Greenbelt residence address, phone number and original signature.
Once received and filled out by the voter, the ballot can be returned by mail or in person. Applications for absentee ballots must be received no later than noon on Monday, November 4. In order to be counted, absentee ballots must be received by the city clerk no later than 6 p.m. on Election Day, November 5. Once an absentee ballot has been issued, the voter may vote in that election only by using the absentee ballot.
Military service members, their families and other U.S. citizens abroad who are covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act may also use the Federal Post Card Application to request an absentee ballot for a city election.
Early Voting
Early voting will be held on different days in Greenbelt West, Greenbelt East and Center City, but qualified city voters are welcome to vote at any of these locations, no matter where in the city they live.
Center City: Early voting will open on Saturday, October 12 in the Municipal Building, 25 Crescent Road, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. On weekdays, voting will be held at the Municipal Building from Monday, October 14 through Friday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesdays until 8 p.m.
Greenbelt East: Voting will be held at the clubhouse at Schrom Hills Park, 6915 Hanover Parkway, on Saturday, October 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, October 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Greenbelt West: Voting will be held at the Springhill Lake Recreation Center, 6101 Cherrywood Lane, on Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, October 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For additional information on absentee or early voting call the city clerk’s office at 301-474-8000 or visit the city website at greenbeltmd.gov, click on Government, then Election Information.