Leading The Way

Prince Georgians Lead Maryland In Early Voting. Here’s Why.

By Raoul Dennis

Indicative of the historic rate of response among voters across the country in the 2020 election season, voters in Prince George’s County are also making a historic statement of their own.

Residents in the county have led the state in early voting turnout.

As of day six of early voting (see chart), over 97,500 county voters placed their votes---ahead of all other jurisdictions in the state, including Baltimore and Montgomery Counties, at (91,000 and 97,400 votes cast respectively).

“Prince George’s County has seen a historic early in-person voting totals,” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks at her Oct. 29 press conference (click here or see above to view Ms. Alsobrooks’ remarks). “[Maryland] broke records this week in terms of voter participation and no surprise, Prince George’s County led the way. Prince George’s doesn’t kid around. I am so proud of the participation and the engagement. I’m not surprised.”

Alsobrooks also called on voters who still had mail-in ballots to go directly to one of the 42 drop box locations immediately. “If you must go to the post office, go inside and make sure the clerk postmarks the ballot,” she said.

The county executive also explained that accommodations would be made for seniors and voters with disabilities to come inside to a waiting area where their placeholder will be set up so they can wait their turn while seated inside on Nov 3. Golf carts will be made available for those who need them to get to and from their cars at the voting center they choose.

Prince George’s County Council Chair Todd M. Turner (D-Dist. 4) cited three years of crisis-level management and tough policies at the federal level as motivation for county residents to pour out so strongly.

“The record early voter turnout in Prince George’s County for this historic election is exciting and offers a hopeful sign for the state of our democracy. Whether it has been the federal shutdown, immigration policy, the reckoning of institutional racism, or the global pandemic, Prince George’s County, located next door to the nation’s capital, has been directly impacted,” Turner said.  “I thank our Board of Elections officials and workers for their efforts to make it easier for voters to participate safely, including mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes, early voting or during voting in-person. I also commend county residents for showing up at the ballot box, including our young voters, to exercise their right and voice, in this year.”

Reaction to the record-breaking turnout centered on the overwhelming sense that this election season has broad implications regarding the direction of the nation – and the very lives of voters and their families for generations to come.

Says Dr. James A. Dula, a longtime leader in the county and founder of the Socratic Speaker, a community interest platform, county voters are devoted to civic traditions and the duty. “Prince George’s County voters are committed, patriotic voters who historically engaged in economic, social and political interests affecting the welfare of the general public. Leading the state during early voting is a clear reflection of voter intent to preserve - and advance - the causes of economic prosperity, education and quality of life for all people.”

Pastor John Jenkins, who leads Maryland’s largest church, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, says voters are frustrated with leadership at the federal level. “People are frustrated with the federal government in particular. People want to see change,” Jenkins says. He shares his hope that young voters will get engaged I the process beyond Nov. 3.  “I’m excited to see that people are getting engaged and involved in the process. I hope that everybody votes and maintains their engagement in the political process. I hope more people will become involved and represent the values of their community to run for office. And once they run and win, that they maintain office and govern according to the values they campaigned on.”

Mirinda Jackson, a now retired federal government employee, says she has focused on national politics for over 30 years and has only witnessed this type of energy twice before: the 2008 election of President Barack Obama and the 1976 election of Jimmy Carter to the presidency.

“As a former federal employee I have always been focused on national elections,” she says. “In the recent past, it was the first African American president. And prior to that, it was Jimmy Carter when he narrowly defeated Gerald Ford. At that time, the country needed a change after the Nixon presidency and Gerald Ford who pardoned Nixon for his misdeeds.”

Jackson recalls staying up late into that election night hoping that Carter, a simple peanut farmer from Georgia, would win the White House because of the national pain and frustration of the Nixon years. She says the nation needed a change, a fresh start. Much like what she says is needed now.  “We need an honest and decent person to lead and to bring to the country together. I believe that person is Joe Biden,” says the Accokeek resident.

“We know the importance of this election and the impact that it will have on us, our children and grandchildren and our quality of life,” Jackson continues. “We are politically astute. That’s why we have elected officials that we have now representing us. We have a great County Executive and County Council.”

Whenever it’s important to the African-American community, we will get out there and make a difference,” Jackson notes. “People relaxed thinking Hillary had it in 2016. They thought they would go to sleep and that Hillary would be president when they woke up the next day. Instead, it was a wakeup call.”

Tolson Banner, CEO of Muzik Xpose, a digital radio company is an Upper Marlboro, MD resident who ties in the wake up call with history and American culture.

“I think a lot of our response is due to voter suppression,” Banner says. “The tactics that have been used across the country have given heighted awareness of black people. I tip my hat to the leadership of this county for being relentless in getting the word out making it as easy as possible to for Prince George’s County residents to vote--and keeping up the momentum up to Nov 3.”

He continues: “Since before the voting rights act of 1965 we have been fighting against suppression. John Lewis gave his life to that. John went to his grave still fighting for the return of the Voting Rights Act. Suppression raises our anxiety level and in response to that we seek to remove that stress that we are feeling Since they are going all out to stop us, we realized that ‘wow, we must really have something.’”

That is what Midgett Parker, Esq. sees as well. He recently launched an office in Camp Springs.

Rep. John Lewis

“I think our community has awakened. Our prayer is that this passion and enthusiasm is spread to family members who live across the U.S. We all have family across the US. The passion demonstrated in Prince George’s for the importance of this election ought to be spread by telephone, text and email to every family member from Arizona to Michigan to Pennsylvania, Florida and Wisconsin. Prince George’s is going to show the world we are the progeny that founded the civilization of this planet and we are leading by example to show the world today that we can rebuild the presence and reputation of the United States.”

For Edgar Brookins, after 30 years as General Manager of the Washington, D.C. office of the Afro American Newspaper, it’s a matter of urgency and a sign of the times.

“The times that we are in are historic. Unprecedented,” Brookins said after years of covering challenges such as AIDS, gentrification, 9/11 and the government shut down. He says the current intersection of COVID-19, civil unrest, corruption and economic strife brings all pots to boil at once. “There’s lots of high energy and enthusiasm reflected by these long lines. People know this is a time in history for all of us to exercise our constitutional right to vote. They wanted to be counted and to say ‘I had a part in whomever is elected.’ Even with all the roadblocks, post office disruptions and disinformation – all that has not deterred the people from saying ‘I will stand in the lines or whatever is available to me in order to vote.’”

He says there’s no room to wait for someone else to fix the problem.

“People know we can’t sit back and say ‘someone else will take care of that,’ now, we must have all hands on deck. That’s why voters in Prince George’s are so serious about this,” says Brookins who has founded The Ciera Brookins Lupus Educational Foundation.

For Ardmore’s Dwayne Renal Sims, it begins with getting young people to be committed over the long term. And as far as he’s concerned it can start with the 2020 election cycle.

 “I feel so much joy to see the young people stand up and be counted,” Sims says. “[This] has motivated everyone. People are paying attention. People are motivated. And it’s good to see young people motivated and hopefully, there are future leaders coming out of this.”

Brookins says that even if the election doesn’t end the Trump presidency, he’ll keep moving.

“If it’s Trump, I still have to get up and live. I still have to do what I have to do. Try and climb this thing regardless.”