Indivisible Howard County Expresses Concern about Governor Hogan’s Decision to Hold a Regular Election in November and Asks that Ballots be Mailed to Maryland Voters.

As Marylanders are continuing to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Governor Hogan’s decision to hold a traditional election in November is extremely disappointing and worrisome.  There can be no justification for Governor Hogan’s decision, which creates unnecessary obstacles to voting and risks the health and safety of our voters and election officials. We urge Governor Hogan to reconsider his decision immediately.

Governor Hogan’s proposed approach calls for ballot applications to be mailed to all voters. This introduces an unnecessary, bureaucratic requirement on our citizens, who would still have to return these applications before  receiving their actual mail-in ballots.  This is expensive, potentially confusing to voters, and places an enormous burden on the local Boards of Elections.  

Governor Hogan’s plan further mandates that all regular polling locations be open on Election Day.  The key issue here is staffing as election judges (25,000 of which are needed) are typically retired volunteers, who are in the most at-risk category for Covid-19.  In fact, many election judges have already indicated that they would not serve in November, because, as one stated in his letter to the Editor of the Washington Post “I will not by my acquiescence endorse anti-scientific, anti-public health policy that deliberately chooses to expose both poll workers and voters to a deadly viral threat rather than conduct a free, fair and safe election by mail.”

In accordance with guidance issued by the Center for Diseases Control (CDC) on June 22, and consistent with the recommendations from local Board of Elections, Indivisible Howard County supports an approach which includes a combination of options as follows:

• Mailing ballots with pre-paid return envelopes to all eligible voters

• Expanded in-person voting options in comparison with the June primary. The actual number of polling stations needs to be carefully calibrated to a reasonable staffing requirement in light of Covid-19, In no event can this equate to all of the normal polling locations in our State as Governor Hogan has directed.
• Touch-free drop boxes

The current plan risks the possibility of chaos and confusion in this most critical election. We urge Governor Hogan to revise his order as soon as possible so that local Board of Elections can start planning this important election and ensure that all Maryland voters are able to vote easily and safely in November.