Vote On, Prince George’s

Nearly 70% of Eligible Voters In Prince George’s Cast A Ballot In 2016. It’s Already Trending Higher for 2020

By Raoul Dennis and Kia Lisby

Prince Georgians are likely to vote in higher numbers this year – despite COVID-19 and challenges with the U.S. Postal Service.

Deputy Administrator of the Prince George’s Board of Elections Daneen Banks says inquiries regarding mail-in ballots are already climbing.

Prince George’s Board of Elections reports that it has received 54,482 requests for 2020 mail-in ballots thus far as compared to 28,966 requests for mail-in ballots in the 2016 Presidential General Election. Although COVID concerns are boosting interest in mail-in ballots, the high stakes nature of the 2020 Election season is also a factor.

Daneen Banks

The board notes that 68.3% of the county’s registered voters participated in the 2016 presidential election—above the nation’s 55% of all registered voters casting a ballot in the Clinton-Trump contest.

With the general election quickly approaching, mail-in ballots are highly encouraged (instead of in-person voting). Election leaders are also encouraging voters to vote early this year.

For early voters, drop boxes will be placed at the 11 early voting sites with more to follow. They will be secured with 24-hour security and will be sent directly to the Prince George’s County Board of Elections Office. Ballot results will not be revealed until Nov 3.

Prince George’s County Board of Elections recently held an emergency board meeting Aug. 26. Members discussed the polling locations for the 2020 general elections. For county residents seeking to vote in person rather than by mail, early voting will be held from Oct 26 – Nov 2 at 11 early voting centers. In addition to the early voting sites, a combination of 29 public high schools and community centers will be open on election day, totaling to 40 sites altogether, to serve county residents.

  There have been some changes to prior voting sites due to spacing and parking challenges. Some of the sites that will remain the same from previous years are Bowie City Gymnasium, Wayne K. Curry Sports, and Learning Center, Southern Region Technology and Recreation Complex, Accokeek Volunteer Fire Department, and Kentland Community Center. To contact the Prince

George’s Board of Elections for questions or concerns regarding voting center locations and changes, visit https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1.