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League of Women Voters 2008 General Election
Voters’ Guide For Washington County |
President and Vice President of the United States
Representative in Congress – The Office
Representative in Congress – District 6
Judge of the Court of Special Appeals At Large
Board of Education – Washington County
State Constitutional Amendments
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Miscellaneous Voting Information ·
POLLS are OPEN 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. ·
EMERGENCY ABSENTEE BALLOTS may be obtained at your local Board of
Elections office in the 7 days prior to and on election day. You may fill out the application form,
obtain the absentee ballot and VOTE in one visit. ·
POLLING PLACES are usually less crowded between 10 a.m. and 2
p.m. Try voting on your lunch hour. (Located at the end of this
document) |
PRESIDENT AND
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
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About the
Office SALARY: $400,000 per year TERM: Four years.
Limit of two terms. HOW
ELECTED: Every
four years political parties nominate candidates to run for President of the
United States in a general election that is held on the first Tuesday in
November of years divisible by the number four. Although the parties use conventions to
nominate their candidates, in most states the Democratic and Republican
parties also run state-wide primary elections. The results of the primary influence how
the delegates to their respective party’s convention will cast ballots for
candidates for President. The degree
to which the result of the primary election influences the votes of delegates
at conventions varies from state to state. DUTIES: The President is the head of state of the
United States of America and is the Chief Executive Officer and the Commander
in Chief of all military forces. The
powers of the President are described in the Constitution and federal
law. The President appoints the
members of the Cabinet, ambassadors to other nations and the United Nations,
Supreme Court Justices and federal judges subject to Senate approval. The President, along with the Cabinet and
its agencies, is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the
United States. The President may also
recommend legislation to the United States Congress. |
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Questions asked candidates for President: The
League of Women Voters of the United States posed questions to the candidates
for President in accordance with the following criteria: ·
All qualified presidential
candidates were invited to provide biographical information and responses to
five issue specific questions. Candidates were qualified if they met the
following criteria: 1) the candidate must have made a public announcement of
her/his intention to run for President; 2) the candidate must qualify for the
ballot in enough states to win a majority of electoral votes; and 3) the
candidate must meet the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act's minimum
contribution threshold requirements for qualifying for matching funds, based
on the most recent data publicly available on the FEC Web site as of August
8, 2008. ·
Responses were limited to 50
words and truncated after the 50th word. ·
Additional information on
presidential candidates is available on the League's voter information Web
site, www.VOTE411.org. In Maryland Write-in candidates are
allowed to file, after spending $50.00 in pursuit of the office, until seven
days prior to the election. If they
file as write-ins, their names will be posted in each polling place on
Election Day and votes for them will be counted. Their names will NOT be on any ballots. BIOGRAPHY: GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: What, if anything, do you believe the federal
government should do to control global climate change? COST
OF HEALTH CARE: What should be done at the
federal level, if anything, to combat the high cost of health care? ECONOMIC DISPARITY: What,
if anything, should the federal government do about the growing economic
disparity between the middleclass and the well-to-do? EDUCATION:
What, if anything, should the federal
government do to create the world's best educational system for all children
in America? U.S.
STRATEGY – RISING GLOBAL POWERS: What
should the U.S. strategy be towards rising global powers like Russia and
China? The responses to these questions
are copyrighted by the League of Women Voters of the United States. |
Vote for One:
Barack Obama (Illinois) -- Joe Biden (Delaware)
Party: Democratic
Website: www.barackobama.com
BIOGRAPHY: Obama began his career as a
community organizer on Chicago’s South Side and headed a voter registration
drive. Obama practiced civil rights law and taught constitutional law. He
served eight years in the State Senate before his election to the U.S. Senate.
He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: I believe the
federal government should pursue multiple paths to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and address the threat of global climate change, including
implementing aggressive cap and trade requirements to reduce U.S. emissions by
80% from 1990 levels and investing heavily in clean energy and advanced vehicle
technologies.
COST
OF HEALTH CARE: My
healthcare plan will make aggressive investments in cost-cutting technologies
and will place more focus on prevention and chronic care management. The net
result will be to bring down the costs of healthcare spending by $2,500 for a
typical family, annually, and lower the expense of Medicare’s services.
ECONOMIC DISPARITY: I will cut
taxes for the middle class and roll back some of the Bush tax cuts for those
making over $250,000 to restore fairness to the tax code. I will make long term
public investments in R&D, clean energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing
to create millions of good-paying jobs.
EDUCATION: I will
strengthen public schools by expanding early childhood education, reforming and
funding No Child Left Behind, recruiting and rewarding high-quality teachers,
and expanding afterschool and summer learning opportunities. I will create a
$4,000 American Opportunity Tax Credit and expand financial aid to make higher
education affordable for all.
U.S.
STRATEGY – RISING GLOBAL POWERS: We must
enhance our abilities both to collaborate and compete with China, while being
vigilant about China’s military modernization and respect for human rights. As
we seek a future of clear-eyed engagement with Russia, we must ensure Russia
acts as a force for progress, not regression to past conflicts.
John McCain
(Arizona) -- Sarah Palin (Alaska)
Party: Republican
Website: www.johnmccain.com
BIOGRAPHY: John McCain graduated from
the Naval Academy and served for 22 years as a naval aviator. He was elected to the House of Representatives
in 1982 and the Senate in 1986. He has
served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and ranking member of the Armed
Services Committee.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: I support
developing a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 60% by 2050,
providing tax credits for alternative energy, promoting zero-carbon nuclear
power, reducing the federal government’s carbon footprint, funding research
into clean-coal technology, and offering incentives for America’s automobile
industry to develop electric cars.
COST
OF HEALTH CARE: Under
my plan, American families will receive $5,000 tax credits to purchase
insurance, either through employers or the private market––insurance that can
follow them if they change jobs or leave the workforce. I will work for reforms to lower costs and
provide coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions.
ECONOMIC DISPARITY: We must spur
growth, create jobs, improve educational attainment, and enhance financial
security. My plan will keep income and
payroll taxes low, reduce the price of gas, double the dependent exemption,
bring down health-care costs, give deserving homeowners new fixed mortgages,
slash our high business taxes, and expand trade.
EDUCATION: Our education
system must focus on standards, accountability, and choice. My plan calls for recruiting highly qualified
teachers in the neediest communities, empowering parents to choose the best
schools for their children, expanding online educational opportunities,
providing low-income families with access to tutors, and funding professional
development for teachers.
U.S.
STRATEGY – RISING GLOBAL POWERS: As President,
I will work to establish good relations with other nations. At the same time, I will stand up for
democratic values and human rights, and I will oppose aggression and
Cynthia
McKinney (California) -- Rosa Clemente (North Carolina)
Party: Green
Website: www.mckinney2008.com
Did
not meet LWVUS/EF criteria stated above.
Bob Barr (Georgia) -- Wayne A. Root
(Nevada)
Party: Libertarian
Website: www.bobbarr2008.com
Did
not meet LWVUS/EF criteria stated above.
Ralph Nader
(Connecticut) -- Matt Gonzalez (California)
Party: Independent
Website: www.votenader.org
BIOGRAPHY: Attorney, author, and
consumer advocate, named by Time Magazine one of the "100 Most Influential
Americans in the 20th Century."
Over 4 decades of public service. Helped establish the OSHA, EPA,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Safe Drinking Water Act, Motor Vehicle
Safety Act, and Freedom of Information Act.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: The government
should stop subsidizing fossil fuels: oil, electric and coal mining interests.
Invest in renewable energy that is efficient, sustainable, and environmentally
friendly: wind and solar power. Encourage more efficient automobiles, homes and
businesses. Ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Create an independent Oceanic Protection
Agency. Adopt a carbon pollution tax.
COST
OF HEALTH CARE: Adopt
a private delivery, free choice of hospital and doctor, single payer public
health insurance system. This would save $350 billion annually by eliminating
exorbitant executive pay, advertising, computerized billing fraud and abuse,
and apply those savings to comprehensively cover everyone without increasing
taxpayer costs. Lower costs through bulk purchasing.
ECONOMIC DISPARITY: Unfair
legislation allows the middle class to suffer while the rich entrench their
status. To correct this we should enact a living $10 wage, adopt a fair
tax, and provide equal pay for women. We
must end corporate subsidies and bailouts. Repeal NAFTA and the anti-union
Taft/Hartley Law.
EDUCATION:
Increase
civic education and decrease standardized testing. Repeal “No Child Left
Behind” Act. Do not tie test performance to school funding. Provide full
funding for pre-school and nutrition
programs. Get product marketing out of the schools. Ensure that the nation's
crumbling schools are repaired within 3 years.
U.S.
STRATEGY – RISING GLOBAL POWERS: The US should
be a humanitarian superpower. Our foreign policy must redefine global security,
peace, arms control, an end to nuclear weapons and expand the many assets of
our country to assist with major initiatives against global infectious
diseases. Stop support of foreign dictators. Human rights come before trade,
profit.
Chuck Baldwin
(Florida) -- Darrell L. Castle (Tennessee)
Party: Constitution
Website: www.baldwin08.com
Did
not meet LWVUS/EF criteria stated above.
WRITE-IN CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FILED IN MARYLAND:
Donald K. Allen
(Ohio)
Party: Unaffiliated
Website: www.donaldkallenforpresident.com
Lawson Mitchell
Bone (Tennessee)
Party: Independent
Theodis (Ted)
Brown, Sr. (Missouri)
Party: Independent
James D.
Criveau (Virginia)
Party: Non_Partisan
RaeDeen R.
Heupel (Montana)
Party: Independent
Website: www.raedeen.com/
Ronald G. Hobbs
(Pennsylvania)
Party: Independent
Keith Russell
Judd (Texas)
Party: Non-Partisan
Frank Moore
(California)
Party: Independent
Website: www.frankmooreforpresident08.com
Lynne A. Starr
(Florida)
Party: Independent
Blaine Taylor
(Maryland)
Party: Democratic
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About the U.S. House of Representatives: SALARY: $169,300 per year. TERM: Two years, no term limit. HOW ELECTED: The
United States is divided into 435 Congressional Districts that are
reapportioned after every decennial census. All seats in the House of
Representatives are up for election in every even-numbered year. DUTIES: Representatives share
responsibility with Senators for enactment of the nation’s laws as provided
for in the U.S. Constitution. |
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Questions asked candidates for
Representative in Congress: BACKGROUND: What are your
qualifications for this office? IMMIGRATION: What changes, if
any, do you support in regard to immigration policy? CLIMATE CHANGE:
Describe Federal legislation you
would support to address global climate changes. ECONOMY:
Identify a major challenge to the U.S. economy and how Congress should address it. EDUCATION: What are your views
on the No Child Left Behind legislation? HEALTH CARE: What plans need to be put into place to meet
the country’s health care needs? NATIONAL SECURITY: Identify a national security issue and how
Congress should address it. |
Vote for no more than one candidate.
REPRESENTATIVE
IN CONGRESS – DISTRICT 6
Jennifer
P. Dougherty
Party:
Democratic
Website:
www.jennifer08.com
BACKGROUND:
As a small
business owner for more than 21 years and a former Mayor of Frederick, I have
experience setting priorities and balancing a government budget. I am the only person in the race who has
balanced a government budget, created jobs and managed government contracts.
IMMIGRATION:
I support
legal immigration and will work to make federal law clear, enforceable and
effective. I support improving
electronic employment verification, raising penalties on employers who violate
the law and create a method for immigrant to pay for immigration processing
through a payroll deduction.
CLIMATE
CHANGE: I support raising vehicle efficiency standards,
adopting a cap & trade system for emissions and investing in pilot programs
to encourage conversion to sustainable energy sources. I propose a bio-fuels refinery in
central/western Maryland that will advance the best technology, create jobs and
offer an All -American Alternative.
ECONOMY:
The
government budgeting process is one of the biggest problems. I support requiring new budgeting
restrictions that encourage meeting the mission, controlling costs and
rewarding creativity. Reckless spending,
growing deficits and crushing debt is hurting our ability to invest in actual
services.
EDUCATION:
I support
reforming No Child Left Behind by funding all federal requirements, reducing
classroom size, hiring new teachers, addressing pay equity for teaching
professionals, and funding Head Start.
HEALTH CARE: I support health care for all within 5 years. I support expansion of State Children’s
Health Insurance, allowing early retirees (over 55) to buy into Medicare
coverage, allowing young people (18-24) to remain on family coverage. I support consumer choice – stay in current
plan or buy into federal plan.
NATIONAL
SECURITY: The endless War in Iraq has depleted the resources
and strength of our military. First,
support a plan for a responsible withdrawal from Iraq; guarantee the people in
uniform have adequate pay, benefits, supplies; invest in restoring equipment
for military; invest in adequate rehab facilities and treatment for veterans.
Roscoe Bartlett
Party:
Republican
Website:
http://www.bartlettforcongress.org/
BACKGROUND:
I have been
elected eight times to represent the Sixth District of Maryland in the U.S.
Congress. Conservative, taxpayer advocacy and business organizations confirm
that I have consistently voted for less taxes, less spending, less regulations,
and to protect life and Americans' Constitutional rights.
IMMIGRATION:
Our
immigration system is broken. I have voted against amnesty for illegal aliens.
My priorities are to secure
CLIMATE
CHANGE: To counter mounting evidence that burning fossil
fuels may contribute significantly to global warming and that world oil
production may be unable to keep up with growing demand, I support energy
efficiency, conservation and research and development to transition from
dependence on finite fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy.
ECONOMY
and NATIONAL SECURITY: Our increasing dependence upon imports for 2/3 of
the oil we use is making Americans poorer.
Our transportation is 95% dependent upon oil endangering both our
economy and national security. We are
transferring $600-700 billion per year, more than we spend on defense, to oil
producing countries such as
EDUCATION:
I voted
against No Child Left Behind because I oppose decreasing local control of
education by parents, teachers and administrators in the Sixth District. They
know better than any bureaucrats in
HEALTH
CARE: We have a sick care system, not a health care
system. I support changes to increase and reward healthy lifestyle choices by
individuals, increase competition by insurers and health care providers and
limit malpractice awards unrelated to medical expenses to help reduce health
care costs.
Gary W. Hoover,
Sr.
Party:
Libertarian
Website:
www.hoover4congress08.com
BACKGROUND: I have been in the automobile
business for the past 16 years. During this time, I have had to negotiate
everyday. I believe that we need people in the congress that are willing to
negotiate with others to get the peoples business done.
IMMIGRATION:
I support
greater enforcement of the current immigration laws, not just at the boarder but
also at the factories and business that are hiring people that are not
permitted to work in our country. There needs to be a total reform of
Immigration policy but no amnesty.
CLIMATE
CHANGE: We need to completely rethink our energy policy,
along with our environmental policy
ECONOMY:
9.5 trillion dollar debt that Congress has strapped the future generation
with. Stop
spending money we do not have, any new spending has to be matched with cuts
elsewhere. Balance budget amendment with emergency provision in case of war or
major catastrophe. In addition, cut in programs.
EDUCATION:
Failure
!!Need to abolish the Department of Education and return schooling to the
states, local school boards, and the parents. After watching how those in
congress run this country why in the world we want them to educate our
children.
HEALTH
CARE: Complex problem, but I would start with opening up
the health care program that is now enjoyed by members of congress and other
federal employees. This would make health care much more affordable to many
people. Then look at how we can help the private sector cover those without
insurance.
NATIONAL
SECURITY: We need to rethink our aggressive attitudes towards
the world. Deploy troops only in case of direct attack, withdraw from outdated
alliances. Regain the respect of the world.
JUDGE OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL
APPEALS AT LARGE
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About the Office: SALARY: $149,552. annual base TERM: 10 years – no term limit HOW
ELECTED: The Governor appoints judges to the Court
of Special Appeals. The State Senate
must confirm these appointments. At
the end of a ten-year term, these judges’ names must appear on the
ballot. Voters vote “yes” for
retention, or “no” to remove from office.
Judges may not be opposed by other candidates in retention
elections. Maryland is divided into 7
Appellate Judicial Circuits. One judge
is appointed from each of these circuits and six members are appointed from
the state at large. There are a total
of 13 judges in the Court of Special Appeals.
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Questions asked the Court of Appeals candidates: BACKGROUND: What are your qualifications for this
office? JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS: What is area of greatest need in the
Maryland judicial system? LEGAL ACCESS: What can be done to provide individuals
with wider and better access to legal help and the legal system? |
Vote “yes” for continuance in
office or “no” for removal.
Deborah Eyler
BACKGROUND: In 11 years of service as a
judge on the Court of Special Appeals, I have authored more than 1,000 case
opinions. From that experience, I have gained in-depth knowledge of all aspects
of Maryland law and have become skilled at producing case opinions that are thorough,
fair, and timely.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS: In the criminal justice
system, additional "drug court" diversion programs because the vast
majority of crimes in Maryland are rooted in the distribution and use of
illegal drugs. In the civil justice system, affordable legal representation,
especially for parents and children in contested custody cases.
LEGAL ACCESS: More outreach by courts and
the judiciary's local pro-bono committees, which exist in each county, to link
up, early in a case, a party who cannot afford representation with a pro bono
lawyer who can handle the matter for free or at a substantially reduced rate.
Robert
A. Zarnoch
BACKGROUND: Before my appointment, I
served 30 sessions as the Attorney General's Counsel to the General Assembly. I
reviewed 20,000 bills and authored thousands of advice letters. I argued in the
Supreme Court and participated in 39 cases in the State's highest court,
including one making the Camden Yards stadiums possible.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS: A 2008 Harris Poll
discloses that only 16% of the public has a great deal of confidence in the
courts and the justice system. Such numbers will never be reversed until judges
demonstrate by performance that the system is accessible, deals fairly with
all, and reaches just results.
LEGAL ACCESS: Studies note that a citizen
is more likely to go to court than be hospitalized. Greater support for legal
aid and pro bono lawyering is needed. Promotion of pre-paid legal plans and
self-help, expanding small claims courts and streamlining legal procedures
would also help citizens obtain affordable legal assistance.
BOARD OF EDUCATION –
WASHINGTON COUNTY
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About the Office: SALARY: TERM: HOW ELECTED: DUTIES: |
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Questions asked the Board of Education candidates: CHALLENGE: What do you perceive as the greatest challenge to
Washington County Public Schools over the next four years? BUDGET PRIORITIES: What are your budget priorities in light of
the reduced Thornton funding? What
areas do you believe should be reduced and what areas should be maintained or
increased? REDISTRICTING: What would be your criteria for
redistricting for new and renovated schools? MAGNET ADMISSIONS: How can we ensure that magnet school
admissions are inclusive and fair? SAFETY: What more should be done to promote safety
in the schools? PRE-K: What should the public school’s role be in
ensuring quality programming for pre-k children? |
Donna
L. Brightman
CHALLENGE: The greatest
challenge for the WCPS system over the next four years will be how to maintain
the delivery of excellent educational programs and services to all students
with decreasing state, local, and federal funding. During the same time period
we will be struggling to upgrade our schools which have an average age of 44
years. We also must insure the greatest cost benefit and highest standard of
accountability. To accomplish that, we need an independent internal auditor and
fraud hot line in place. I plan to work to accomplish that goal.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: Reduced
funding at all levels, state, local and federal, will drive the need for a different annual
budget process and realignment of priorities throughout the school system. My
personal top budgetary priority is based on what “touches” the children
directly. The classroom teacher, school site support staff, and principal
should be considered the “A Team” and funded accordingly. The annual Board of Education budget process
should be redesigned collaboratively with the County Commissioners to insure an
agreed upon baseline contribution, plus areas for negotiation.
REDISTRICTING: I served on the Facility and Enrollment
Advisory Committee prior to my appointment to the Board of Education. Having
gone through the redistricting process from both perspectives I firmly believe
that redistricting is a technique used when land use policies have failed.
There must be a more visionary comprehensive plan for the future of this
county. Only then can we avoid yearly realignments and the breakup of our
communities. All innovative approaches to school construction, renovation,
adaptive reuse and public private partnerships should be considered when
looking for solutions to our overcrowded aging school facilities.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: It became
clear during our recent redistricting that the magnet programs throughout the
county need to be reviewed. When most of our elementary schools are at or over
capacity and those same schools are offering programs to out-of-district
students it becomes difficult to then force in-district students out of their
community schools. We must fine a way to balance programs, capacity and
transportation to insure fair and inclusive education opportunities.
SAFETY: Washington
County Public School System has worked to insure safety inside our schools, on
school property and during the transportation process. I consider the safety of
all our students to be of paramount importance. Internally we need to be
constantly vigilant and ready to adjust policy, procedures and training as
needed. Externally, we need to greatly improve how we communicate with our
parents, families and the whole community. Rapid public response along with an
open transparent process will go a long way to strengthening the public’s
confidence.
PRE-K: The public
school system has a mandate to provide services to children from birth.
Washington County has several pre-k programs already in place and is working to
increase availability throughout the county. I believe we have the greatest
cost benefit to society in general and our community in particular when
children receive very early basic skills instruction and socialization. Early
identification of children in need of intervention also will reduce the demand
for remedial work in later years allowing children to take more on level and
advanced courses, moving into post graduate activities earlier.
Jacqueline
Fischer
CHALLENGE: The
greatest challenge to Washington County Public Schools over the next four years
will be addressing the overcrowded conditions in many of our schools while also
reducing the backlog of maintenance to facilities. As state and county budgets grow tighter, the
system may have to consider some alternate means of financing new schools and
additions or renovations to existing ones such as performance-based contracting
and public/public or private/public partnerships. At the same time we must insist on energy
efficient, environmentally friendly construction to address energy costs and environmental
concerns.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: If
the school system experiences a reduction in Thornton funding, I would suggest
a freeze on new programs and initiatives, additional board-level staff, and
replacement computers. I would also have
each department reduce its budget by an equal percentage, to be determined by
the amount of the shortfall. Programs
and interventions aligned with the No Child Left Behind requirements must be
maintained. I would also insist on maintaining
the current student/teacher ratio.
REDISTRICTING: When
the next new elementary school and the new high school are in the planning
stages, I would task the Facilities Enrollment Advisory Committee with devising
a plan to redistrict the entire county.
Criteria for redistricting should include limiting elementary schools
from feeding into no more than two middle schools and middle schools from
feeding into no more than two high schools, 2) keeping student travel time
under 40 minutes one way, 3) avoiding having students pass one school to reach
another, 4) maintaining local-rated
capacities, and 4) balancing ethnic and socio-economic populations where
possible.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: First,
qualifying criteria must be established along with the number of students the
magnet can handle. Depending on the
school’s capacity, the number of students to be accepted from outside that
district should be determined.
Applications should be accepted from all interested students across the
county. Applicants should remain
anonymous to the selection committee for as much of the process as
practicable. Finally, transportation
links need to be made available so that all students would have the ability to
attend the magnet of their choice.
SAFETY: The school
system has addressed several safety issues in the last two years. Cameras and key card locks have been
installed in schools. At the three new
schools, visitors cannot get past the main office without office personnel
providing entrance. However, students
can play a major role in assuring the safety of the schools. Awareness is key. Students must be taught the importance of
maintaining certain practices such as keeping outside doors locked and
following teachers’ safety instructions when performing certain tasks. Perhaps more importantly, students must be
made comfortable in reporting any suspicious actions or conversations they
witness to adults in the school.
PRE-K: First,
because of the extreme importance of early childhood training, more
pre-kindergarten sessions should be made available. Currently, the school system has in place a
pre-k curriculum, The Children’s Literary Initiative. Because this program aligns with the reading
program used in grades K-5 and because it is used in all WCPS
pre-kindergartens, quality programming is ensured. The curriculum emphasizes literacy and
numerical development and teaches independent, critical, and creative
thinking.
W.
Edward Forrest
CHALLENGE: The
greatest challenge to the Washington County Public Schools will be to build on
the current successes of the school system.
This can be accomplished by implementing a process of continuous
improvement. This includes, but is not
limited to, maintaining small class sizes, recruitment and retention of highly
qualified classroom teachers, insuring that our facilities provide a safe and
clean learning environment, development of fiscally responsible budgets and
setting school system policies that support student learning and improved
opportunities for students at all levels.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: Although
the school system will incur a reduction in Thornton funding, there will still
be smaller net increase in
funding. My budget priorities include
maintaining small class sizes, providing for competitive teacher salary and
benefit packages, and maintaining and expanding learning resources and
opportunities for students. I would also
advocate for budgeting increases in maintenance, renovations, or replacements
of our aging schools. Each line in the budget
should be evaluated annually for opportunities for reductions or redeployment
of funds to more critical areas which directly impact student learning and
reported to the elected board for consideration.
REDISTRICTING: As
our county grows, what was once a relatively rare process will become more
frequent. I support the current
Facilities and Enrollment Advisory Committee process in which a broad community
based membership makes recommendations to the school board for
consideration. The school board should
develop a specific charge for each redistricting process that outlines clear
expectations for the committee and offers multiple opportunities for citizen
input. The school board should act on
the recommendations with any changes or amendments in a timely manner to allow
affected communities the opportunity to react, seek clarification or ask
questions of school system staff.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: Students across the county may apply for admission to
a variety of magnet, signature, and academy programs which may be outside of
their attendance area. Admission may be
based on parent request and/or a matrix of academic performance and other
factors which may predict student success. I support these programs but have
advocated for improved communication to parents about availability, curriculum
and admissions process. I also believe schools should identify any student with
potential regardless of their individual circumstances. I support the
development of a transportation network to enhance access for students who may
not have private transportation opportunities.
SAFETY: I supported the recent acceleration of school entrance security
measures including the instillation of cameras and door buzzers. Further, I have supported and advocated for
increased partnership with local law enforcement to place safety resource
officers in several high schools. I
would support placing these positions in all high schools. This would increase the level of school
safety and help to establish trust between young people and law enforcement
officers. Finally, portable classroom
offer another area of opportunity for improving school safety. Measures must be in place to eliminate or
minimize potential incidents particularly at the elementary school level.
PRE-K: The
Maryland Bridge to Excellence legislation requires that all public school
systems develop a plan to proved pre-k programs for 4 year olds from
economically disadvantaged families.
During my tenure on the board, I supported the implementation of the
plan that now serves 550 pre-k students from across the county. I also supported the purchase and
implementation of a researched based literacy curriculum which has improved
school readiness as measured by the Maryland Model for School Readiness. I support pre-k education and would advocate
for public-private partnerships to offer increased access to quality pre-k
programs.
Meredith
Fouche
CHALLENGE: The
availability of funds to continue existing programs will be critical in every
budget year in the next four
BUDGET PRIORITIES: Essential to our curriculum is the
continuation of our Magnet Programs. Quality education for all students. I
believe all instruction from Pre-K to 12th grade is the essence for educating
life time learners. I have no opinion on cutting programs until that becomes a
reality in lack of funds available from funding sources.
REDISTRICTING: Almost every renovation or new construction
requires shifting of students. There is a belief of some in the community that
650 plus student elementary schools are not in students best interest. Some say
our schools should not exceed 500 students.
When shifting of students is required those students living closest to
the new schools should b\e moved first.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: Every magnet program must have clear and
concise admission requirements. The Board of Education has developed a
comprehensive evaluation process to ensure admission to magnet programs are
fair and equitable and I approve of current procedures.
SAFETY: Unfortunately we have over 50 portable
classrooms in use across the county and to be honest I do not feel they are safe. I do not wish to
be an alarmist and realize for the most part we live in a safe community; but
that is what other communities thought before incidents occurred there. When
students move from portables to main buildings to use restrooms unescorted they
are vernable. Just raising a concern as an involved citizen.
PRE-K: I believe the movement in American society is
for public schools to be involved in Pre-K instruction. For many school
districts this may be a new program and with any new program it is wise to
proceed slowly. Admittedly many young children are not being provided at home
with the skills they need for kindergarten thus Pre-K is needed.
Justin
M. Hartings
CHALLENGE: Over
the next four years WCPS will have to provide a better education for more
students with less money. Several
regions of the County already facing capacity challenges will be further
stressed by development over the next few years. The slowdown in the housing market has given
the Board a real opportunity to address these challenges. With tighter budgets projected for this
period of time, the Board must be deliberate, creative, and strategic in
modernizing facilities and creating more space for these new students while
continuing to improve performance in the classroom.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: Achievement
in the classroom should always be the primary guide for budgets. Identifying programs that are producing
academic results requires continuous scrutiny by the Board. Using my background in business, statistics,
and data analysis, I will take a holistic and focused approach to establishing
budget priorities. This approach
combines a detailed look at each budget item with a scrupulous analysis of the
results produced by each program. Those
programs that produce student achievement will emerge as priorities, while
those that do not will be considered for reduction or elimination.
REDISTRICTING: Redistricting
decisions must balance the needs of the overall school system with those of
individual families and communities.
Failing to populate a new school can delay funding for other school
construction projects in the County, while hasty redistricting decisions can
disrupt families and communities. The
first priority should be to ensure that the County has the facilities it needs
to educate all of its students. Every
effort has to be made to provide these facilities in a way that keeps
communities together. Strategic and
creative approaches to expanding our facilities will ensure that these goals
can be met simultaneously.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: The
magnet school admission process must ensure that the best qualified students
are offered admission. The process
should take a complete look at each applicant, evaluating motivation, unique
aptitudes, test scores, teacher evaluations, and parental input. Now that the magnet program has been in place
for a number of years, it will be important for the Board to scrutinize the
program’s results. Achievement of
students in the program, students in schools with magnet programs, and students
in schools without magnet programs should guide the Board in expanding these
opportunities for students in all parts of the County.
SAFETY: As a
parent putting his children on WCPS buses every day, student safety is always
on my mind. The next step in creating a
culture of safety is to focus on the individual school level. Each school has unique safety considerations
resulting from the age of the buildings, the design of facilities, and the
community location. A policy that is
essential in one school may not make sense at a school in a different
neighborhood or with a different design.
Local school officials must be empowered and encouraged to develop local
policies that address the unique needs of each school.
PRE-K: Entering
kindergarten ready to learn is an important predictor of long-term success in
the classroom. With the recent move to
full-day kindergarten, the tight budgets in years ahead, and the capacity
challenges at many schools, now is not the time to introduce a County-wide
pre-k program. The school system should
continue to introduce pre-k programs where they can fill unmet needs in the
county, and clearly define the skills children need to succeed in
kindergarten. Empowering parents with
this knowledge will give them the tools to prepare their children for the first
day of school.
Margie
Lowery
CHALLENGE: The
greatest challenge to Washington County Public Schools over the next four years
will be managing the rapid enrollment growth and the necessity to address the
foreseeable future in terms of providing adequate facilities. Portable
classrooms are being used to satisfy student population and maintenance
backlogs exist in many schools, but starting FY 2009, state education aid could
be 6.3 million less than expected. However, our high school enrollment is
projected to have a growth of 167 students by the year 2011. Fiscal pressures,
providing adequate facilities and managing the rapid enrollment growth will be
the greatest challenge for W.CP.S.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: My budget priorities are related to helping all students reach the
proficiency level and attain high achievement goals. Programs that provide
appropriate support for their educational endeavors would be priorities in
light of the reduced Thornton funding. Areas to be designed are cost- efficient
management systems and practices in order to improve the support to
instruction. I would like to see participation increased in: Children’s Literacy Initiative ,
Comprehensive Literacy Program, Advanced
Placement, Career and Technology Education ,University System of Maryland,
Intervention and Dropout Prevention and the2007-2008- redesign of the
Leadership Responsibilities in Student Services and Special Education.
REDISTRICTING: My criteria for redistricting with new schools starts at the very
beginning with zone alignment attendance meetings: FEAC and county land-use
policies. When public hearings for land-use policies are being held, all
stakeholders must utilize a visionary planning approach to eliminate the need
for redistricting. When redistricting renovated schools, I prefer to use
Mapping Sustainability to perform calculations that determine the number of
students affected by district changes with utilization of maps to determine
boundaries. Advisory committees then determine the student counts to help them
focus their decision making on socioeconomics and other factors.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: We can ensure that magnet school admissions are inclusive and fair by
stating: all students in W.C.P.S. are eligible via the magnet application,
looking at the student selection for each program, and realizing that some
students can benefit from recommended programs through their home school
programs or attendance area. Usage of a variety of assessment tools, teacher
recommendation, grades, student interviews, parent perception, Raven
intelligence test and demographic information and a magnet lottery system can
be utilized for some programs. All of these methods should ensure that
admissions are inclusive and fair for any student in WCPS.
SAFETY: In
order to promote more safety in schools, all volunteers need to complete
background checks before interacting with students. The BOE should implement a
cooperative plan with the county Sheriff’s department to complete background
checks. More cameras need to be utilized in entrances, hallways and parking
lots and we need to secure community efforts to have a law enforcement officer
in every school. Every student has a
right to a safe school environment and programs such as Character Counts
develop character, eliminates bullying and harassment and assist students in developing healthy lifestyles that eschew
drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
PRE-K: The
public schools role in ensuring quality programming for pre-k children is to
follow the requirements of the MSDE. Public schools need to ensure to offer all
at-risk students quality programming for pre-k.
Pre-k classes need to maintain coherence and continuity that complement
the reading program that is used in grades K-5.Pre-k programs need to
strengthen language and reading skills and prepare the students for future
educational programs.
Wayne
David Ridenour
CHALLENGE: The challenges
are actually two-fold but related. One is how to maintain our excellent
academic standing and how to educate our
children in adequate buildings in light of likely funding cuts from the state.
Overcrowding, inadequate facilities and the need for new construction will be
hot topics for the next four years. How to fund a variety of projects as well
as adequately compensate the people, who serve our students, will be major,
however, all this must be seen in the context of student achievement. We must
ensure that our students have the facilities and quality teachers that will
maximize achievement.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: My priorities have not changed. They remain ,
creating optimal learning environments for teachers and students. Everything
this system does must be focused on the classroom. During the past few years
student achievement has risen. The system employees deserve all the credit.
From top down we have to continue to hire and retain the best people we can.
Since all systems are competing for the best and brightest, we must be a
competitive system, be it in salaries, benefits or facilities. Our budget has to be structured in a way to
ensure we are competitive with other competing
systems.
REDISTRICTING: The criteria for redistricting is both an art
and science, governed in part by legal mandates and restrictions. The art is
quantitative and strives to achieve a well-balanced combination neighborhoods
that will enrich the school and be representative of the cross-section of
students who must work together in their school environment. The science part
requires studies of numbers and student yields from certain neighborhoods and
developments. Parent input is essential,
however, in the end the Board must do what is best for students. Relief from
overcrowding, which can harm performance and raise safety issues, must be the
purpose for redistricting.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: A defined criteria is available for
stakeholders. Admissions are based on multiple criteria, to ensure that no one
factor outweighs another. Combinations
of test scores, classroom performance, formalized state testing, student
interviews, teacher perceptions and creative problem solving tasks are weighed.
The test scores include a non verbal assessment that allows ESOL students to
demonstrate ability without penalty for a lack of English speaking skills. At
the elementary level, areas are equally weighed. With Middle and High school
magnets, work in the content area applied for will be given most weight. WCPS has
a highly comprehensive and inclusive admission process.
SAFETY: During my tenure, WCPS has hired a security
specialist who has an outstanding background in both safety and law
enforcement. The system must trust and utilize his expertise. A "risk Assessment"
of all schools has been completed and the system has increased budget
allocations for safety and security. Resource officers can be added as deemed
necessary. But foremost, we must make
certain the safe guards already in place are enforced and be vigilant to any
potential new threats and adapt our practices to meet any and all new issues as
they arise.
PRE-K: WCPS has been a forerunner in providing
Pre-kindergarten programs, especially full day programs. The programs are
giving students a sound foundation in academic skills at the earliest stages of
schooling. Assessments given in
September and May indicate students coming out of these programs have made
significant gains in reading , writing and math. We expect these results to
continue. The special literacy program,
"Children's Literacy Initiative", was adopted three years ago.
We hope and expect to see great results from this cohort of students when they
take the MSA tests.
Russell
French Williams II
CHALLENGE: To find the means
to pay for the land and construction of the new schools that must be built due
to increasing student population. Everyone agrees that this must be done and
everyone seems to believe that someone else should pay for it.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: A Board of Education hires a superintendent.
The superintendent i s charged with running the schools and making
recommendations for allocation of resources.
Once the superintendent has determined the resources available and recommended
the best allocation of these resources, the board, as a deliberative body,
after listening to the reasoning of the superintendent and of the citizens who
support or disagree with the superintendent’s recommendations decides what
changes if any to make to the superintendent’s proposals. It would be unwise for a Board of Education
member or candidate to suggest cuts before having available all of the detailed
information mentioned above.
REDISTRICTING: As with some of the other questions it would
be easy to say, “If I was on the board I would do this and this.” The reality
is that there are processes and procedures for methodically dealing with
questions such as this. A committee
representing a wide variety of interests has, after long and careful study and
debate, already made its recommendations.
Citizens have given input about changes affecting their children. This is the proper procedure. However, the
board did not follow its committee’s report and the current situation is that
some schools are overcrowded and one has a great deal of extra space. Those
parents who argued against redistricting for their children should it least be
required to show letters they have written asking that taxes be raised so that
their children will not be moved and provide data showing that riding a school
bus on the interstate is more dangerous than riding a bus on back County roads.
MAGNET ADMISSIONS: Many magnet schools are in the Hagerstown
area. Students who do not live in the
attendance area of the magnet school and who are qualified and wish to attend a
particular magnet school must provide their own transportation. Greater geographical inclusiveness will come
if the Board of Education is willing to devote resources to transporting
qualified students to magnet schools that are not in the student’s home school
area. For example, a Hancock parent
transporting a student to a Hagerstown magnet school will have to travel
between 60 and 120 miles a day. Poor
parents cannot afford such an expense.
SAFETY: The Board of Education has hired a safety
officer. His recommendation should be listened to very carefully and, where
financially feasible, followed.
PRE-K: The public schools must make sure that pre-K.
children are taught by qualified teachers who are well trained and that the
pre-K. curriculum is written to mesh with kindergarten and first grade
curriculum.
STATE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
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Question 1 - Constitutional Amendment (Chapter 513, Acts of 2007) Early Voting; Polling Places; Absentee Ballots Authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to
allow qualified voters to vote at polling places inside or outside of their
election districts or wards and to vote up to two weeks before an election.
This amendment also authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to
allow absentee voting by qualified voters who choose to vote by absentee
ballot, in addition to voters who are absent at the time of the election or
who are unable to vote personally. (Amends Article I, §§1 and 3 of the Maryland Constitution)
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Origin
of this Ballot Question – Legislation that would
allow early voting and “no-excuse” absentee voting was passed by the General
Assembly in 2006, but a court decision found the legislation to be in conflict
with the Maryland Constitution.
Therefore, in the 2007 session, the General Assembly passed SB 1 -
Elective Franchise - Early Voting and Polling Places which amends the Maryland
Constitution to allow the General Assembly to pass legislation that will
establish early voting sites and allow voters to vote by absentee ballot
without having to give a reason. All
Constitutional Amendments must be passed by a majority of voters statewide.
Present
Practice – Article I, Section 1 of the
Maryland Constitution states that a voter “shall be entitled to vote in the
ward or election district in which he resides.”
As currently interpreted, this means that a voter cannot vote at an early
voting location outside the voter’s election district and that a provisional
ballot cast by a voter outside his or her election district cannot be
counted. Article XV, Section 7 of the
Maryland Constitution designates the “Tuesday after the first Monday of
November” as the date of the general election.
This has been interpreted by the Court of Appeals to mean that early
voting is not permissible.
Absentee
ballots are only for use by voters who are absent at the time of an election or
who are unable to vote in person at the assigned voting precinct. The absentee ballot application requires a
voter to affirm this fact.
Proposed
Change – If the amendment passes, the
General Assembly may enact laws to establish early voting sites. Early voting would allow registered voters to
vote, in person, up to two weeks before a state-wide primary or general
election at polling places outside of their normal district or precinct. Early voting sites can accommodate voters from
multiple precincts or even from the entire state. However, passing this amendment only allows
the General Assembly to establish an early voting process. The details of how many early voting sites
will be established and how the locations for them will be determined will come
in future legislation.
Passage
of this amendment will also allow the General Assembly to pass legislation that
enables any qualified voter to vote by absentee ballot if they choose to do
so. The enabling legislation could
remove the requirement to sign a statement telling why the voter wants to vote
by absentee ballot.
Pros: Allows for
in-person voting by voters who, due to work hours, long commutes or other
reasons, are unable to vote during the limited hours on Election Day. Early voting should ease long lines and
lengthy wait times at precincts on Election Day and should ease the workload of
precinct workers. This measure also
increases the likelihood that a voter’s provisional ballot will be counted by
allowing a provisional ballot cast outside the voter’s election district to be
counted for eligible races.
Cons: There will
be increased costs associated with providing polling locations prior to
Election Day. Voters who vote during
early voting may not have access to late campaign information on which to base their
election decisions. By encouraging more
voters to use absentee ballots or early voting sites, some of the community
interaction that takes place at precinct based polling places may diminish.
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Question 2 - Constitutional Amendment (Chapter 5, Acts of 2007 Special Session) Authorizing Video Lottery Terminals (Slot Machines) to
Fund Education Authorizes the State to issue up to five video lottery
licenses for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education of children
in public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12, public school
construction and improvements, and construction of capital projects at
community colleges and higher education institutions. No more than a total
number of 15,000 video lottery terminals may be authorized in the State, and
only one license may be issued for each specified location in Anne Arundel,
Cecil, Worcester, and Allegany Counties, and Baltimore City. Any additional
forms or expansion of commercial gaming in Maryland is prohibited, unless
approved by a voter referendum. (Enacts new Article XIX of the Maryland Constitution)
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Origin
of this Ballot Question – For several years, efforts
to enact legislation that would authorize Video Lottery Terminals (slot
machines) as a way to raise revenue for state expenditures failed in the
legislature. The governor proposed, and
legislators agreed, that the decision of whether to significantly expand gambling
in Maryland should be decided by the voters.
The Maryland Constitution allows only two ways for citizens to vote on
laws. The first is to gather enough
signatures on a petition to place a law that has been passed by the General
Assembly on the ballot for voter approval.
The second is to place a constitutional amendment, approved by
three-fifths of the legislators, before the voters in a General Election. In the 2007 Special Session, the Maryland
General Assembly passed HB 4, which would add a new article to the Maryland
Constitution to authorize video lottery terminal gaming (slot machines) in
Maryland. A majority of voters, statewide, must vote in favor of the
amendment for it to go into effect.
Present
Practice – Currently, the annotated code of
Maryland prohibits video lottery terminal (slot machine) gambling except
certain fraternal, religious or war veterans’ organizations in a few counties
may operate no more than five individual slot machines, and the revenue from
them must be used for the charitable purposes of those organizations. Public education is currently funded through
Maryland’s General Fund. State funding
for primary and secondary education is about $5.35 billon for this fiscal year. The three main sources of revenue for the
General Fund are income tax, retail sales tax and the State Lottery. School construction may be funded by the
General Fund but is primarily funded by borrowing through the issuance of State
bonds.
Proposed
Change – If the amendment passes, Maryland
may operate up to 15,000 video lottery terminals in five locations: Baltimore
City and Anne Arundel, Allegany, Cecil and Worcester Counties. No more than one gambling facility would be
allowed in each of the authorized jurisdictions. Another bill related to gambling, SB 3, was
also passed during the 2007 Special Session.
It will go into effect contingent on the passage of this constitutional
amendment. As defined by SB 3, 33% of
proceeds from video terminal gambling would go to the licensed operators, 9.5%
to the horse racing industry; and approximately 48.5% to education. The remainder would be used for lottery
expenses, local impact grants and administrative costs. Included in the latter is money to fight
gambling addiction. The amendment also
states that no additional video lottery terminals shall be authorized without
another approval by voters.
Pros: In 2007,
the Department of Legislative Services estimated 2010 state revenues will
increase by approximately $86 million from video gaming receipst and by as much
as $565 million by 2013. This additional
revenue could reduce tax increases that would otherwise be necessary to fund
projected education expenses. Maryland
residents who gamble in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware may choose to
spend their gambling dollars here instead of taking them out of state. New jobs will be created in construction and
the gambling industry. Jobs in the horse
racing industry may be saved. Unlike
taxation, gambling is a recreational choice and not a mandate.
Cons: In order
to generate enough revenue to reach the projected increases to state funding,
gamblers in Maryland would have to lose over $1 billion per year. To generate this level of revenue, the state
will have to urge its citizens to frequent slots parlors. Gambling, like other addictions, frequently
leads to social (and government) costs associated with lost productivity,
increased crime, broken families and even suicide. Disposable income that currently generates
sales tax revenue could be spent on gambling resulting in a loss to the General
Fund. The referendum would put a
specific revenue source, gambling, in the state Constitution. A constitution should be clear, concise and
confined to fundamentals of the structure of government.
To Accompany the On-Line
2008 GENERAL
ELECTION VOTERS’ GUIDES
General
Election: Tuesday,
November 4, 2008
Polls
open - 7 am
to 8 pm
Voter
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Find Your
Local Board of Elections – From the Maryland State Board of Elections Website.
Legislative and
Congressional District Maps – From the Maryland Department of Planning Website.
Absentee Ballot Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Emergency Absentee Ballot Procedure:
Provisional Ballot Procedure:
The Electoral College: An explanation.
THE VOTERS’
GUIDE and THE LEAGUE of WOMEN VOTERS
The
League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that works to promote
political responsibility through informed and active participation in public
policy debate and governmental decision-making. The League has a long tradition of publishing
the verbatim responses of candidates to questions important to voters. The League offers this Voters’ Guide to
assist citizens in their decision-making process as they prepare for the
general election. The League does
not support or oppose any political party or candidate. The
candidates’ answers in the Guide appear as submitted. If answers exceeded the word limit, an
ellipsis indicates words were cut from the end of the statement. No write-in candidates will appear on the
ballot but the list of filed write-ins will be available at each polling
place. In
most areas of Maryland, the Local Leagues have been able to have Voters’
Guides printed for distribution. For
those voters who need On-Line access, this version has been prepared. The League thanks all candidates who submitted
answers to its questionnaires. |
VOTER
REGISTRATION STATUS and POLLING LOCATION
Check with
your Local Board of Elections to verify your registration status and polling
location. The registration deadline is
Tuesday, October 14.
COME PREPARED TO VOTE
1.
Read your sample ballot from Board of Elections mailed the last week of
October.
2.
Note your polling place location on the front; polling locations change!
3.
Use this Voters’ Guide to become informed on candidates and
issues.
4.
Mark your candidate selections and ballot question decisions ahead of time.
5.
Bring your completed sample ballot with you on November 4 to vote confidently
and reduce waiting times. Shorter lines
are expected from 10 am to 2 pm.
DON’T PANIC IF THERE’S A PROBLEM
1. Check the signs for directions
and/or ask the poll workers for assistance.
2. Depending on your jurisdiction,
language assistance may be available.
3.
If your name is not on the precinct register, you may be directed to another
polling place or given the option of a Provisional
Ballot. Provisional ballots are verified following the election for
voter registration accuracy. Votes of verified
registrants are included in the final election tally.
POLLING PLACE RESTRICTIONS
No
cell phone, pagers, cameras or computers may be used by voters in the polling
place.
Up
to two children, 13 or under, may accompany a voter into the voting booth.
LONG
WORK HOURS? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
On
Election Day, polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. State Law requires
Maryland-based employers to release you with pay for up to two hours only
if you do not have two continuous hours off during the time the polls
are open.
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1.
Apply in writing
for an absentee ballot if you “will be absent or unable to vote in person in
the election.” Applications are available from your local Board of
Elections upon request in writing, by telephone, or in person. 2.
Return completed
application form by 4:30 pm October 28 to the Board of Elections by mail or
in person. 3.
Absentee ballots
are usually mailed approximately three weeks before an election. 4.
Return completed
absentee ballots by mail, postmarked no later than Election Day, Nov. 4 or in
person at the Board of Elections by 8 pm on Election Day. If
the need arises from October 29 through Election Day, request an Emergency
Absentee Ballot. Apply in person at the Board of Elections: 1.
Complete Late
Application for Absentee Ballot, 2.
Receive an
absentee ballot and 3.
Vote on the spot
or return to the Board yourself by 8 pm on Election Day. If unable to complete this
process in person (e.g. hospitalization) 1.
You or someone
acting for you must obtain a Late Application for Absentee Ballot. 2.
Complete the
Designation of Agent section on the Late Application. 3.
Your agent then
obtains an absentee ballot from the Board of Elections on your behalf, brings
it to you to vote, and returns it prior to 8 pm on Election Day. |
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The
selection of the President and Vice President of the United States is more
complicated than simply counting up the number of votes that each candidate
receives on Election Day. When the
United States Constitution was written, the country’s founders created an
institution call the “Electoral College”. Part of the goal of establishing such an
institution was to give power to the less populous states and to insure that
candidates for President and Vice President had sufficient distribution of
support from all areas of the nation to govern. Each
state is allocated one elector for every representative that they have in
Congress. In Maryland, we have two Senators and eight members of the
House of Representatives so we have 10 electors in the Electoral College. The smallest states have two senators and
one member in the House so they have only 3 electors. Even though the District of Columbia has no
members in Congress they were given the right to have electors following the
ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961. California, the most populous state, has 55
electors. No member of Congress may be an elector. In
the beginning, the Electoral College had considerable power in making an
independent choice among the candidates for President and Vice President. At one time, their names appeared on the
ballot during a Presidential election. Now, only the names of the candidates
appear. However, voters are actually
casting ballots for electors who are pledged to the ticket they just voted
for. The candidate with the highest
number of votes in each state will be represented by electors who will all
cast their vote for the winning candidate. The exceptions to this
“winner take all” practice are the states of Maine and Nebraska. In those states, the winner of the statewide
vote gets 2 electoral votes (equal to the number of senators from the state)
and the candidate with the highest popular vote in each Congressional
District receives the one electoral vote that is allocated for that district. On
the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, all of the electors chosen
as a result of the General Election in November meet in their respective
state capitals to cast two ballots – one for President and one for Vice
President. The Electoral College
includes 538 electors (one for every member in Congress plus 3 from the
District of Columbia). In order to be
elected, the candidates must receive 270 electoral votes. If no candidate for President receives that
many votes, the House of Representatives picks the winner from the top three
vote getters. Each state receives only
one vote, regardless of its size. The
Senate chooses the Vice President if no candidate receives 270 votes. Senators cast their votes as individuals,
not as states. |