Early voting begins this week in the Republican and Democratic primary elections to choose each party’s candidates who will appear on the ballot in April. Voters who are not affiliated with one of the major political parties may only cast a ballot in some nonpartisan contests.
Montgomery County’s Election Director, Margaret Jurgensen, encourages all registered voters to cast a ballot and has some suggestions for steps that to take to help the voting process go smoothly and protect one’s right to vote.
Whether choosing to vote during Early Voting that begins April 14 and ends on, April 21, or at the polls on Tuesday, April 26, Jurgensen provides six suggestions for voters:
Bring a sample ballot to the polling place.
Be on time and avoid peak hours if possible. Early voting hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and voting hours on Election Day are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If voting on Election Day, know one’s assigned polling place.
If voting early, check the wait time before leaving home or the office. Wait times at each of the ten Early Voting Centers in Montgomery County are updated in real time at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections/index2.html.
ID may be required. First-time voters in Montgomery County may be required to show proper identification such as a Maryland driver’s license or official document including name and address.
If need help, ask. Election officials are trained to answer questions about the voting process and assist voters with physical disabilities. The ballot is available in both English and Spanish. Voters may also bring their own interpreter to the polling place to help with the voting process.
For more information, call 240-777-VOTE, visit www.777vote.org.