Early Voting Option Hopes to Boost Voter Turnout

Can't make it to vote in the primary Tuesday, Sept. 14? Well, have no fear, early voting is here.

Starting Friday, Maryland voters will be able to cast their votes early for the primary. The newly implemented early voting option will be available Sept. 3 to Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day expect Sunday, Sept. 5.

The closest polling center to Riverdale Park and University Park is The College Park Community Center, although there are five early voting sites in Prince George's County. 

In order to boost voter turnout, the community center will also be the site of an early voting rally to be held on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

University Park Mayor John Tabori, who formerly worked as a political economist, said early voting turnout has increased voter turnout in states like Washington and Oregon that have been the leading states in this movement.

"My understanding is that their voter turnout has increased," Tabori said, "but it's mail-in voting, and citizens have a month to vote early."

Although in Maryland, the early voting is still at polling centers, he said it still gives residents the option to plan when they want to vote.

"University Park comes out very close to the limits of voting," Tabori said.  "You can never expect 100 percent of registered voters or 100 percent of eligible voters to register."

Yet, he said, the new option would make it easier to vote.

Alisha Alexander, elections administrator of Prince George's County Board of Elections, said she hasn't seen any resistance to the movement.

"We're hoping that it'll increase turnout," Alexander said. "Individuals who have not historically been able to vote, it'll give them the opportunity to go out to the polls at the time that's convenient to them."

She said several county offices have contests, where the primary will determine who's running in November.