Three Ways to Vote

Voting is easy in Montgomery County with three ways to cast your ballot. For more information, visit the Board of Elections at www.777vote.org.

Vote by Mail

Any voter can vote by mail. Download the absentee ballot request form and send it to the Board of Elections by November 1 if you want your ballot mailed to you or by November 4 if you want it delivered electronically.

Vote Early

Early voting is available October 27-November 3, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at any of these ten early voting sites: 

• The Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
• Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
• Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
• Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
• Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
• Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac
• Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
• Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, 2401 Arcola Avenue, Silver Spring

Vote on Election Day
Show up at your local precinct on November 8.

* New! If you missed the October 18 registration deadline and are qualified, you can register and vote the same day at any of the early voting sites. Just bring a Maryland driver's license, identification card, learners permit or other proof of residency.

Early Voting October 27-November 3

Mark your calendar early voting October 27-November 3, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.  Any registered voter may cast a ballot at any one of ten sites on the same voting equipment used on Election Day. Many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

The locations are:

• The Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
• Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
• Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
• Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
• Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
• Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac
• Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
• Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, 2401 Arcola Avenue, Silver Spring

For more information about early voting, visit the Board of Elections at www.777vote.org. If you prefer, you can also vote by mail.

Vote by Mail Applications Available Now

Here's the full press release from the Board of Elections:

Any registered voter who wants to vote by mail may request an application online to vote in the Presidential General Election as long as they have a Maryland driver’s license or MVA-issued ID card. If you request a vote by mail ballot, it will be your official ballot and you will not be able to vote on the paper based, digital image scan voting system at the polls on Election Day on November 8, or during Early Voting, October 27 – November 3.

To apply for a vote by mail ballot, visit our website – www.777vote.org – and select Vote by Mail. Follow the instructions for completing the application which may be mailed, faxed (240-777-8560) or e-mailed absentee@montgomerycountymd.gov) to the Board of Elections. To obtain an application for another person, please call 240-777-8550 for detailed information.

The deadlines for receipt of your completed application are as follows: 

• If you want your ballot mailed to you, your deadline is Tuesday, November 1, 2016. If you mail or deliver this form, your election office must have it by 8 pm. If you fax or email it, they must have it by 11:59 pm. 
• If you want to print your on-line delivery ballot from the State Board of Elections’ website, your deadline is Friday, November 4, 2016. If you mail or deliver this form, your election office must have it by 5 pm. If you fax or email it, they must have it by 11:59 pm. 

 After the aforementioned dates, absentee ballot applications need to be requested in person at our office – 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, in Gaithersburg. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During Early Voting, October 27 – November 3, the office is open from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 15 and November 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; on October 22 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and on Sunday October 23 and November 6 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections wishes to remind voters that impersonating another voter or casting a ballot on behalf of another person is a crime. If you see or hear of any attempted vote fraud, contact the State Attorney’s Office at 410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023 toll free in Maryland or via TDD at 410-576-6372.

For more information on voting by mail call 240-777-VOTE, visit www.777vote.org, our mobile app at m.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections, the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website at http://elections.state.md.us, or follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter.

Your Time, Your Voice, Your Vote!

Media Contact: 240-777-8625

Early Voting April 14-21

Early Voting Centers will be open April 14-21, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you are registered to vote in Montgomery County you may cast a ballot at any one of these sites:

Activity Center at Bohrer Park
506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg

Damascus Community Recreation Center
25520 Oak Drive, Damascus

Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street, Rockville

Germantown Community Recreation Center
18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown

Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center
4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville

Mid-County Community Recreation Center
2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring

Potomac Community Recreation Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac

Silver Spring Civic Building
One Veterans Place, Silver Spring

Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad
2400 Arcola Avenue, Wheaton

Potomac Community Recreation Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac

Of course, you can also vote at your assigned polling place on election day, April 26. For more information visit 777vote.org or call 240-777-VOTE.

Register to Vote or Change Your Party by April 5

Is your voter registration up to date?  Is your political party affiliation correct?  Do you wish to change your political party affiliation or make any other changes to your voter registration?   Generally, you must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican Party to vote in the primary election. If there are non-partisan offices that are elected in a primary election (i.e., school board), any voter can vote for these offices. Make sure you update your registration prior to April 5, 2016, so you are ready to vote.

Visit www.777vote.org to confirm that your registration is up to date or to download a voter registration application to mail to the Board of Elections.  You may also call 240-777-VOTE to verify your voter registration using the automated phone system or visit the office at 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, in Gaithersburg.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; on Saturday, April 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, April 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Applications are also available at county libraries, regional service centers, all offices of the Montgomery County Health and Human Services, the State of Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles, and US Post Offices.

Hearing on Selection of Early Voting Centers

Here's your chance to weigh in on the location of Early Voting Centers. The full press release:

The Montgomery County Board of Elections has scheduled a public hearing to receive testimony from the public about the list of Early Voting Centers for the upcoming presidential election. Each local Board of Elections in the State of Maryland is required to review its list of early voting sites every two years and make recommendations to the State Board of Elections. The Montgomery County Board is seeking public input prior to making its recommendations, which are due at the end of September.

Under state law, Montgomery County must select at least eight Early Voting Centers and may select an additional ninth site. Early voting in Maryland runs from Thursday to Thursday, ending the Thursday before the election, although in person voting by absentee ballot is still available at each local Board of Elections until Election Day.

The public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015, in the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, in Rockville. In addition, public comments will be heard during the August 31, 2015, meeting of the Board of Elections to be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, in Gaithersburg. Details for how to testify at the hearing are available at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Elections/BoardInformation/PublicParticipation.html. Written comments may be sent to elections@montgomerycountymd.gov until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16.

Maps of sites that have previously been used by the county are available on the Board of Elections website at www.777vote.org and a complete list of all sites being considered will be available prior to the hearing. 

Council to Sponsor Discussion of New Public Financing System

The Montgomery County Council will join the Montgomery County Democratic and Republican central committees at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 15, to co-host a forum on the new law that will allow candidates for County Council and County Executive to qualify for partial public financing for their campaigns. The law, which was unanimously approved by the Council in September, is the first measure of its type for County elective offices in the Washington region and in the State of Maryland.

In approving the County’s Fiscal Year 2016 operating budget on May 21, the Council added $1 million to begin building the fund that will start making public funds available in the 2018 election cycle.

The forum, entitled “A Public Discussion of Montgomery County’s New Public Financing System for County Elections,” will be held in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The meeting will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The broadcast also will be streamed through the County Web site.

Explaining the law and answering questions about it from attendees will be a panel including Jared DeMarinis, director of the Candidacy and Campaign Finance Division of the Maryland State Board of Elections; Phil Andrews, a former member of the County Council who was the lead sponsor of the bill that created Montgomery’s public financing system; and Bob Drummer, the senior legislative attorney for the County Council.

Since 2001, members of the Montgomery County Council have urged the Maryland General Assembly to provide the County with the authority to adopt campaign finance reforms. In 2013, the General Assembly enacted a bill that enables counties to provide the option of public financing for county elective offices beginning with the 2015-18 election cycle. Participation by candidates is voluntary.

The forum on June 15 will help explain the details of the law and will provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions about it.

Under the Public Election Fund law, to qualify for public financing, a candidate must:

• File a Notice of Intent prior to collecting qualifying contributions
• Establish a publicly funded campaign account
• Only accept contributions from an individual of between $5 and $150
• Refuse to accept a contribution from any group or organization, including a political action committee, a corporation, a labor organization or a State or local central action committee of a political party
• Collect a qualifying number of contributions from County residents: 500 for County Executive candidates, 250 for at-large Council candidates and 125 for district Council candidates
• Meet qualifying dollar thresholds of $40,000 for County Executive, $20,000 for at-large Councilmember and $10,000 for district Councilmember
• Limits are indexed to inflation
• Only contributions from County residents are eligible for matching funds

The plan provides strong incentives for candidates to seek out many small individual contributors. Matching public dollars for County Executive candidates would be $6 for each dollar of the first $50 of a qualifying contribution received from a County resident, $4 for each dollar for the second $50 and $2 for each remaining dollar received up to the maximum contribution. Matching dollars for County Council candidates would be $4 for each dollar of the first $50 received from a County resident, $3 for each dollar for the second $50 and $2 for each remaining dollar received up to the maximum contribution.

The maximum limit on public funds per candidate for either the primary election or the general election will be $750,000 for a County Executive candidate, $250,000 for a Council at-large candidate and $125,000 for a district Council candidate. Matching dollars would not be distributed for self/spouse contributions or to candidates running unopposed.

Apply Now to Public Election Fund Committee

The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for positions on the recently established Committee to Recommend Funding for the Public Election Fund. Letters of interest must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4.

The Council recently enacted Bill 16-14 that established a voluntary public campaign financing system for candidates for County Council and County Executive. Beginning with the 2018 election, a candidate for Council or Executive may seek matching funds for small dollar contributions of $150 or less from a Public Election Fund. The Council must appropriate funds for the Public Election Fund as part of the annual County government operating budget.

The legislation created the Committee to Recommend Funding for the Public Election Fund to estimate the funds necessary to implement the public campaign finance system and recommend an annual appropriation by the Council to the Public Election Fund.

The Public Election Fund Committee will be composed of five County residents appointed by the County Council for four-year terms beginning on May 1 of the first year of the Council’s term of office. The term of this committee will begin on May 1, 2015, and end April 30, 2019.  No more than three members can be from the same political party. The Council will designate the chair and vice chair. The committee must issue its report to the Council on or before March 1 each year.

All five positions are up for appointment. There is no compensation for members of the commission, but members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses. The committee, once it is formed, will determine how often it will need to meet.  Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Letters of application expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to: Council President George Leventhal, County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850.  Applications can also be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Transition of Two Council Seats

In the final session of the 17th Council we said farewell to the shortest-term and longest-term members of the County Council--Cherri Branson and Phil Andrews, each of whom did not seek re-election to their seats.

We are extremely grateful to Cherri Branson for her willingness to serve District 5 when the need arose. Although her term lasted only one year, she made a huge contribution to the County and represented her constituents admirably.

Phil Andrews, who represents District 3 and concluded his 16th year on the Council, has been a strong and thoughtful leader respected by all. He is been best knows for his unflappable style and his ability to listen carefully to all viewpoints. He has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, and Montgomery County has been lucky to have him in public service for four terms.

Newly elected Councilmembers Tom Hucker and Sidney Katz will join us right after their inauguration on December 1. Both have extensive experience in elected office, and I look forward to working with them.

Live, Local Election Coverage Tonight

Get live, local election coverage on any of the six stations that are members in the Montgomery County PEG (Public / Education / Government) organization of community cable stations tonight starting at 9 p.m. See coverage of races you won't get anywhere else, including county government, the local delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, governor and other statewide races. The stations will broadcast live throughout the evening, immediately posting results made available by the County’s Board of Elections.

Election night 2014 coverage will be simulcast by:

• County Cable Montgomery (CCM: Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon)
• Montgomery Community Media (Channel 21 on Comcast, RCN and Verizon)
• Montgomery County Public Schools Television (MCPS TV: Channel 34 on Comcast; Channel 89 on RCN; Channel 36 on Verizon)
• Montgomery College TV (MCTV: Channel 10 on Comcast, RCN and Verizon)
• Rockville 11 (Rockville 11: Channel 11 on Comcast, RCN and Verizon)
• Takoma Park City TV (Takoma City TV: Channel 13 on Comcast; Channel 13 on RCN; Channel 28 on Verizon)

Internet streaming video coverage of the broadcast will be available at:

• http://montgomerycountymd.gov/CCM/777votelivebroadcast.html
• http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccm
• http://montgomerycountymd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=309 

The polls are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. tonight. Election night television coverage will begin at 9 p.m. and will continue through 11 p.m. A special election focus show will be broadcast from 8:30-9 p.m. Results of early voting—held from Oct. 23-30—are expected to be available at approximately 8:30 p.m. After the show ends at 11 p.m., results will continue to be updated and broadcast on CCM. Those results will run overnight and into the morning hours, with morning updates.

The show will include a variety of political insiders looking at the chief issues voters had to consider and analyzing results as they come in. Guests scheduled include current County Councilmembers Phil Andrews and Cherri Branson, both of whom are not seeking election; former County Councilmember Mike Knapp; Gaithersburg City Councilmember Ryan Spiegel; Town of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin; Casey Aiken, host of the 21 this Week political talk show on MCM; Charles Duffy, host of Political Pulse on the Montgomery Municipal Channel; long-time political insiders Steve Simon and David Dublin; local blogger Dan Reed, author of Just Up the Pike; and Marilyn Balcombe, president/CEO, of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce.

Sonya Burke and Susan Kenedy will anchor the two hours of studio coverage. Lorna Virgili and Michael Bruen will provide live on-the-scene coverage from various locations around the County. In addition, there will be live phone conversations with many of the candidates throughout the show.

The results will focus on election results in races for County Executive, the County Council and the County delegation to the State House of Delegates and the State Senate. Results also will be included in the election for Montgomery Board of Education, Governor, state attorney general and for the three Congressional districts that represent Montgomery County.

Election Results to be Posted Online

Visit the Board of Elections' website for election results beginning right after the polls close on on November 4. Votes cast during early voting will be counted on election day and released shortly after 8:00 p.m. Results from election day will be available beginning at 9:20 p.m. and will be updated every 20 minutes.

Early Voting October 23-30

If you are registered to vote in Montgomery County you can stop by any of the nine Early Voting Centers October 23-30, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. to cast your ballot. Many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day (November 4).

Early Voting Centers:

• Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
• Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
• Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
• Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
• Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
• Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
• Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11711 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton 

Visit www.777vote.org or the new mobile site at m.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections for more information on early voting, including wait times for each center, updated hourly during voting hours.

Local Election Night Coverage

Get up-to-the-minute election coverage Tuesday night from our local cable stations. Here's the full press release:

Six stations that are members in the Montgomery County PEG (Public / Education / Government) organization of community cable stations are combining resources to be the main place to find up-to-date information on Tuesday, June 24, when County voters go to the polls for primary elections concerning County Government, the County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, Governor and other statewide races. The stations will broadcast live throughout the evening, immediately posting results made available by the County’s Board of Elections.

Primary Election Night 2014 coverage will be simulcast by:

• County Cable Montgomery (CCM: Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon)
• Montgomery Community Media (Channel 21 on Comcast, RCN and Verizon)
• Montgomery County Public Schools Television (MCPS TV: Channel 34 on Comcast; Channel 89 on RCN; Channel 36 on Verizon)
• Montgomery College TV (MCTV: Channel 10 on Comcast, RCN and Verizon)
• Rockville 11 (Rockville 11: Channel 11 on Comcast, RCN and Verizon)
• Takoma Park City TV (Takoma City TV: Channel 13 on Comcast; Channel 13 on RCN; Channel 28 on Verizon) 

Internet streaming video coverage of the broadcast will be available through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.

The polls are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. on June 24. Election night television coverage will begin at 8 p.m. and will continue through 11 p.m. Results of early voting—held from June 12-19—are expected to be available before 8:30 p.m. After the show ends at 11 p.m., results will continue to be updated and broadcast on CCM. Those results will run overnight and into the morning hours, with morning updates. 

The show will include a variety of political insiders looking at the chief issues voters had to consider and analyzing results as they come in. Guests scheduled include current County Councilmember Cherri Branson, who is not seeking re-election; former County Councilmembers Bruce Adams, Valerie Ervin and Mike Knapp; City of Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton; Town of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin; Mayor of Kensington Peter Fosselman; Katja Bullock, vice chair of the Montgomery GOP; Casey Aiken, host of the 21 this Week political talk show on MCM; Charles Duffy, host of Political Pulse on the Montgomery Municipal Channel; long-time political insider Steve Simon; local blogger Dan Reed, author of Just Up the Pike; and Bethesda Magazine political reporter Louis Peck.

Sonya Burke and Susan Kenedy will anchor the three hours of studio coverage. Julie Little Rios, Valerie Bonk and Mike Bruen will provide live on-the-scene coverage from various locations around the County.

“The PEG organization stations have been working hard to redefine how they can best serve the residents of Montgomery County. Providing immediate election results is one way we can meet that mission,” said Merlyn Reineke, executive director of MCM and president of the PEG Governing Board. “From the feedback we had from our primary and general election coverage in 2010, we know that people turned to our PEG stations and viewed our broadcast via the Internet because we provided better and faster local election results than other news channels. Once again, our broadcast will be chiefly about Montgomery County results all night, but we also will be watching how the County voted in the statewide elections.”

The results will focus on election results in races for County Executive, the County Council and the County delegation to the State House of Delegates and the State Senate. Results also will be included in the primaries for Montgomery Board of Education, Governor, state attorney general and for the three Congressional districts that represent Montgomery County.

In Person Absentee Voting Still Available

Here's the press release from the Board of Elections:

Montgomery County voters who missed the deadlines to vote by mail or online for the Gubernatorial Primary Election may still pick up an absentee ballot in person.

If you are unable to vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day, or simply prefer to vote a paper ballot, you may visit the Board of Elections in Gaithersburg at any time up to or on Election Day. The office will be open on Saturday, June 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Monday, June 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Election Day, June 24, during the hours that polls are open from 7:00 a.m. TO 8:00 p.m. The elections office is located at 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg, which is about one and one-half miles north of Montgomery Village Avenue.

Voters who cannot come in person to the office may designate another person as their agent to obtain the application. For information on designating an agent, please contact the Absentee Office.  After June 17 voters may choose to download an application from our website, www.777vote.org, or the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website, http://elections.state.md.us.  

The Montgomery County Board of Elections wishes to remind voters that impersonating another voter or casting a ballot on behalf of another person is a crime.  If you see or hear of any attempted vote fraud, contact the State Attorney’s Office at 410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023 toll free in Maryland or via TDD at 410-576-6372.

For more information, call 240-777-VOTE, visit www.777vote.org or follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter.

Three Ways to Vote in the June 24 Primary

Don't let summer vacation get in the way of voting in the 2014 Primary Election. The election is earlier than ever this time, but the good news is that there are several easy options for casting your ballot.

Vote by Mail
Any voter can vote by mail. Download the absentee ballot request form and send it to the Board of Elections by June 17.

Vote Early
Early Voting is available June 12–19, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. at any of the nine early voting sites:

• Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
• Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11711 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton
• Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring
• Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
• Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
• Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
• Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus 

Vote on Election Day

Local precincts will be open 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24.

Nine Early Voting Sites for 2014

The Montgomery County Board of Elections has increased the number of Early Voting Centers to nine for the 2014 elections, pending Maryland State Board of Elections approval. Early voting for the primary election will occur from June 12 to June 19, 2014, and early voting for the general election will occur from October 23 to October 30, 2014. Here are the Early Voting Centers:

Activity Center at Bohrer Park
506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg

Damascus Community Recreation Center
25520 Oak Drive, Damascus

Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street, Rockville

Germantown Community Recreation Center
18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown

Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center
4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville

Mid-County Community Recreation Center
2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring

Silver Spring Civic Building
One Veterans Place, Silver Spring

Wheaton Community Recreation Center
11711 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton

Apply Now to Right to Vote Task Force

Apply by October 30 to the new citizens’ Right to Vote Task Force to study state and local laws and practices that may affect the right to vote. The task force will develop plans and take action to promote early voting and same-day registration, develop plans for a comprehensive voter registration program and make recommendations for changes in state and local laws, regulations and practices.

In Montgomery County, elections are administered by the Montgomery County Board of Elections according to federal, state and County laws and regulations. Voter turnout was 66 percent of registered voters in the 2012 presidential election and 51 percent of registered voters in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

The Montgomery County Council has a history of supporting efforts to increase access to the democratic process, in keeping with its tradition of civic activism. The State of Maryland recently expanded early voting, resulting in at least three new early voting centers for the 2014 elections, and adopted same-day voter registration during early voting.

The County Council created the Right to Vote Task Force to ensure that the County maximizes these new opportunities to make voting easy and accessible for every citizen. The task force will consist of up to 15 members, appointed by the Council, with a staff member from the County Board of Elections serving as an ex officio member. No more than two-thirds of the members may be registered to vote in the same political party. The Council will designate a chair and vice chair. The chair and vice chair must not be from the same party.

The task force must issue an interim report by February 28 and a final report with recommendations by May 31, 2014. The Task Force must also submit a report by February 28, 2015 that evaluates the efficacy and implementation of its recommendations during the 2014 general election.

Submit your letter of interest with a resume by 5 p.m. on October 30 to Council President Nancy Navarro, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland, 20850. You can also send your application by e-mail to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Where Should Early Voting Centers Go?

Where do you think the new Early Voting Centers should be? Let the Board of Elections know at a public hearing on July 27 10:00 a.m.

Due to the success of early voting in the 2012 presidential election and the need to accommodate more voters in the process, the Maryland General Assembly recently passed legislation, that the Governor signed into law, expanding the number of Early Voting Centers in Montgomery County from five to eight. Montgomery County, due to its size also has the option to seek a ninth site.

The Board of Elections staff with advice from Board Members has reviewed available facilities across the nearly 500 square mile county and is reviewing sites to make early voting more convenient. The sites under consideration have been chosen based on population centers, geographic balance, and access to public transportation, parking, and other important criteria such as accessibility for persons with disabilities, security of the facility and Maryland State Board of Elections’ regulations. The sites under review by the Board are attached in alphabetical order.

Public comments will be received by the Montgomery County Board of Elections through 5 p.m. on September 17, 2013.  A public hearing to discuss the Early Voting Sites is scheduled for July 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Board of Elections.  In addition to the public hearing, the Board will meet on Monday, July 29 and Monday, September 16 at 2:30 p.m. to review comments and receive further public comments.  Comments should be submitted in writing to elections@montgomerycountymd.gov.  You may also call the Board of Elections at 240-777-8525 for your name to be placed on a list of presenters at either of the Board meetings.  Comments do not need to be presented in person; you may mail comments to either the web address above or to the attention of Marjorie Roher at the Montgomery County Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg, MD  20879.

Public participation guidelines are available online. More information on early voting and the proposed sites is available at 777vote.org.

Election Returns Will Be Available on County Website

Get up-to-the-moment election results on the Montgomery County website.

Early Voting returns will be tabulated on Election Day and will be available as soon after 8:00 p.m. as possible. Returns from Election Day polling places will be available beginning at 9:20 p.m. on November 6 and will be updated every 20 minutes.

Go to www.777vote.org or www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections where an election-related logo will provide a link directly to the Board of Elections return page, as well as links to the Prince George’s County, state, and national election returns.

Early and Absentee Voting

Montgomery County will open five Early Voting Centers from October 27 through November 1, from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (Sunday hours noon–6 p.m.) at these locations:

~ Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville

~ Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown

~ Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville

~ Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville

~ Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veteran’s Plaza, Silver Spring

If you want to vote in the November 6 General Election you must register by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16. Get your application by calling 240-777-VOTE or by visiting a county library, regional services center, any office of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Motor Vehicle Administration, or any U.S. Post Office. You can also download the application at 777vote.org or register in person at the Board of Elections.

If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, you'll need to get an application and submit the completed form to the Montgomery County Board of Elections (BOE) no later than October 30.

The good news is that you can get an application in any of several ways: online from the Maryland Board of Elections; in person at the county's Board of Election offices (18753 N. Frederick Ave. Suite #210, Gaithersburg, MD 20879); or by calling 240-777-8550. If you request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you, it will be sent after the county BOE receives your completed application.

If you choose to deliver your voted absentee ballot in person to the BOE, it must be received by 8 p.m. on election day, November 6. If you prefer to mail your voted absentee ballot, it must be postmarked by November 6 and received no later than 10 a.m. November 16.