It isn’t often that Greenbelt adopts new methods for voting in city elections, but the repertoire has increased slowly but surely over the years. Following paper ballots was a long period of lever machines, followed by other machines. Then voting times were expanded to make it easier for residents to vote and over the years early voting has expanded with both weekday and weekend hours.
What’s New?
Those who have been following city council legislation are already aware that Greenbelt has followed in the steps of Maryland’s very successful introduction of voting by mail during the primary elections last year. Other residents may have been surprised to receive a Vote by Mail postcard recently that announces the beginning of the program with the upcoming City Council Election on November 2.
How Does It Work?
One important aspect of the program is that it will absorb what was previously known as Absentee Voting. Residents who previously requested an Absentee Ballot should request a Vote by Mail ballot instead.
Although all registered voters will receive applications to request mail ballots if they wish, voters will not be sent mail ballots unless they request them. As explained on the postcard, the application forms will be sent out later this summer. Those who do wish to vote by mail should complete the application for the ballot and send it back no later than Monday, September 27, in order to allow time for processing. The voted ballot can be returned by mail, and additional information will be provided on locations where ballots may be returned or dropped off.
While the form to request a ballot should be returned to the city no later than September 27, the deadline for registering to vote in the election is not until Monday, October 4. New voters should thus be aware that they may not be eligible to Vote by Mail this year if they wait too long to register.
Prince George’s County is strongly encouraging voting by mail as an ongoing precaution while the pandemic continues. It is not a requirement, however, and residents may choose to vote in person on Election Day and at early voting. More information will continue to be provided in this paper and will also be available on the city website at greenbeltmd.gov.