The electoral committee is proposing places for early voting in White Oak, North Potomac, Aspen Hill
This story was updated on September 18, 2021 at 5:20 pm to correct the CEO’s first name.
The county’s electoral committee is considering three new polling stations in 2022 – in White Oak, North Potomac and Aspen Hill, the board chairman said on Saturday.
Board chairman Nahid Khozeimeh said she would propose an additional location for early voting at the White Oak Community Recreation Center and another at the Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center.
She added that at its meeting on Monday, the board would also consider a third additional early election center at the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center in Aspen Hill – though the county would have to pay for it to operate.
If these three additional locations are approved by local and state electoral boards, the county would have 14 locations with area codes in the 2022 elections. It currently has 11 locations.
In the past, members of the electoral committee at the local and state levels have disagreed on whether to add the White Oak site, and it was never approved. This page was the focus of a long fight Participation of district council members, community representatives and the district and state election committees.
The Maryland General Assembly passed laws this year This allows for up to 13 locations for early voting and a 14th location if the local electoral committee and governing body approve and the state electoral committee approves the location.
On September 14th, the district council and the district executive have Marc Elrich sent a letter to the county electoral committee urging it to take over not only the pre-election centers in White Oak and North Potomac, but also one in Aspen Hill.
The letter said the three additional websites would reduce waiting times during the early voting periods in 2022 and contribute to the county’s racial and social justice goals, particularly among minority communities in White Oak and near the Bauer Drive site .
Several people who testified on Saturday said they were pleased to hear that White Oak was proposed as an additional location. Previously, state law allowed eleven prior voting sites in the county, with the option for a twelfth location.
Daniel Koroma, a White Oak resident who has campaigned for a new polling station there, said Saturday he was pleased to hear Khozeimeh describe the board’s plans.
“I urge you to vote for White Oak,” said Koroma. “Even if you say you will, please do it anyway.”
“If I said I would, I will,” replied Khozeimeh.
Several other people who testified on Saturday continued their call for White Oak to be included as the location for the early voting. They said it would help those who do not have access to a car and reduce waiting times on early choice days.
Among these proponents:
- Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Takoma Park)
- Del. David Moon (D-Takoma Park)
- Rachael Evans, board member of Friends of White Oak
- Fatmata Barrie, White Oak resident and County Council District 5 candidate
- Paul Ellis, an election worker
- Lynda Wright, Chair of the Connection and Social Action Committee for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Omega Omega Chapter
Sandra Zimmet, a member of the Democratic Club of Leisure World, asked the electoral committee to approve the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center location along with a larger letterbox in Leisure World than it was in the 2020 elections.
The Bauer Drive site was popular during the 2010 and 2012 elections, has ample parking, and there’s a business mall across the street, Zimmet said.
“I used to vote all the time on Bauer Drive,” said Zimmet. “I could choose to pick up a recipe from CVS and buy groceries at the same time. It was wonderful.”
The meeting of the electoral board is scheduled for Monday 2:30 p.m. and can joined via a zoom link.
Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve.bohnel@bethesdamagazine.com
