Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Early voting in Maryland attracted record numbers of people to the polls. Across Maryland 56 percent more people voted in this year’s gubernatorial primary than the one in 2014 according to the Baltimore Sun.
In Montgomery County nearly two times as many people cast ballots this year compared to 2014 according to Montgomery County Board of Elections spokesperson Marjorie Roher.
By the time early voting centers closed Thursday night, 222,100 Marylanders had voted early, up from 141,590 in 2014. This year 36,685 Montgomery County residents voted early compared to 18,855 in 2014.
“That’s what it boils down to is that we did have a lot of open races on the ballot and a lot of candidates vying for those races,” Roher told WMAL.
Six Democrats are running for their party’s nomination for governor: Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, former NAACP president Ben Jealous, state Sen. Rich Madaleno, lawyer James Shea, former Michelle Obama aide Krishanti Vignarajah, and former Obama administration aide Alec Ross. Incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan has no Republican opponents.
Six Democrats are on the ballot for Montgomery County Executive: council members Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Roger Berliner, Potomac businessman David Blair, Del. Bill Frick and former Rockville mayor Rose Krasnow. There was no Republican primary for the seat because attorney Robin Ficker is the only person running.
Montgomery County residents also have dozens of candidates to choose from for four council seats.
Early voting was held June 14 to 21. Primary day is Tuesday, June 26. Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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