On Tuesday, September 15 two of Greenbelt’s State Delegates, Alonzo Washington and Nicole Williams, co-hosted an election information forum featuring longtime Prince George’s County’s Elections Administrator Alisha Alexander. Washington and Williams both addressed concerns voters had following the primary election and potential problems and confusion regarding the general election as well. Washington cited Governor Larry Hogan’s decision to send out applications for mail-in ballots rather than the ballots themselves, as had been done for the primary, as one current problem causing confusion.
Alexander started out by describing this year’s election as “a massive undertaking” compared with prior ones because the county is essentially running at least two elections at once: one in person, with both early voting and Election Day voting, and another by mail.
At that time, in mid-September, they had already sent out about 140,000 applications for ballots. She confirmed that many people are confused. Many have called to ask when they should open their ballot and fill it out. But it’s not a ballot, it’s an application, she said, and their message is to open everything from the Board of Elections as soon as it’s received.
Ballots
Alexander more than once stressed the importance of voters reading directions once they receive their ballot and, in particular, of being sure to complete the required signatures. She said there is a drop-box at their office, and anyone with concerns can bring their ballot there (1100 Mercantile Lane, Suite 115A, Largo). By the end of the month, drop-boxes will be available in many other places, too.
Alexander explained that ballots could be requested and received by voters either by email or by mail; ballots cannot be returned by email. Since the Board of Elections scanners will not accept any regular printer paper, those ballots sent out to voters by email will not be able to be scanned by the Board’s equipment and will need to be copied onto the appropriate paper. So far, the Board had received 12,000 ballots that would require copying, which provides another major task.
Alexander said she could not repeat enough times that people must request the ballot, which is different from the primary election.
In answer to a question, she said it would be possible for someone who had requested a mail ballot to change their mind and vote in person, but they would have to vote provisionally so it could be determined that there was not also a mail vote.
Asked if there is high risk of someone voting twice – by mail and in person – Alexander said there is not. She said there are many checks and balances on voting twice, and there always have been.
Some advice follows from Alexander for those who hope to survive this year’s election.
For those choosing to vote in person, whether by early voting or on Election Day, do so between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is the non-peak time.
Drop-boxes to receive mail-in ballots will be locked down at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, so do not go at the last minute.
People should not go to their usual polling place. They can go to any voting location in the county designated for voting and are not bound to a single location or precinct.
Alexander closed by saying the biggest problems that cause ballots to be disqualified are (1) they have not been signed in all the necessary places (don’t forget to sign the back of the envelope!) and (2) they are not submitted on time. She said it’s amazing how many people put their envelope in a mail box after the last collection of the day on Election Day so it cannot be legally counted. Be warned: about 6,000 ballots were rejected in this year’s primary for that reason.