by T. Carter Ross

As you may have noticed, there are a number of contested elections on the ballot in Prince George’s this June. Early voting starts on June 14 and runs through June 21 (10 am to 8 pm each day). A full list of early voting locations can be found here: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11692/Early-Voting-Sites-PDF.

The Primary Election is June 26 (7 am to 8 pm). You can check to make sure you are registered and look up your primary day polling location here: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch

If you are unable to make it to the polls to vote, you can request an absentee ballot online here: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/965/Absentee-Ballots

Because of Maryland’s closed primary system, if you wish to vote in the Democratic primary, you must be registered as a Democrat The same holds true if you wish to vote in the Republican primary, you must be registered as a Republican. Voters registered with a third-party, as independent, and/or as unaffiliated will be able to vote on school board candidates, but not any other races. If you are not registered as a Democrat and wish to vote, for example, in the County Executive or County Council races, you can change your party affiliation to Democrat by updating your information online: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration. It takes about five minutes and you will need your driver’s license as part of the process.

The same site can be used to register to vote or to update your address. The deadline to register to vote or to update your voter information, including party affiliation, is June 5.

You can find sample Democratic, Republican, and unaffiliated primary ballots here: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21893/boe-2018_GubPrim_SampleBallots—web-042318