Counting On The Polls

Local And County Leaders Push for Voting Readiness Ahead Of 2020 Election

By Raoul Dennis

Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks announced July 30 that she is taking steps to call for the protection of voter safety ahead of the 2020 election in November.

The County Executive sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan urging him to conduct the 2020 General Election as a vote by mail election. Rather than mailing absentee ballot applications to all voters, the county executive is urging the governor to mail ballots to all registered voters instead, similar to the 2020 Presidential Primary Election. Alsobrooks is also asking the governor to extend the early voting timeline from October 22 through November 3. Finally, the County Executive is asking the Governor to allow the County to expand to 15 early voting locations and to use only those locations on Election Day, and to install secure drop boxes at the 15 polling locations. 

“Mail-in ballots work,” Alsobrooks reported to the Prince George’s County Council in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Doing so reduces crowds, the need for as many volunteers and it protects the health of our residents.”

According to the Alsobrooks Administration, due to a number of factors, opening all polling sites as a normal election would be impossible for Prince George’s. Many of the venues that normally serve as polling places such as senior centers, churches and private halls have withdrawn because they do not want to serve as polling places during a pandemic. They say the county would need 3,500 volunteers to open all polling locations, and based on a recent survey the county conducted, only 34% of trained poll workers indicated a willingness to work. Furthermore, volunteers are typically seniors, and it would be irresponsible to ask them to work these polling locations during a pandemic.

The County Executive’s letter to the governor presents an alternative to the state’s current plan.