Rain and low turnout mark Maryland’s June 23 primary elections

By Andrew Hall 
AFRO Intern
ahall@afro.com

Voters across Baltimore City and beyond showed up at the polls to cast their ballots in Maryland’s June 23 primary elections despite rain showers. Still, overall voter turnout across the state was low – only 16 percent – according to the State Board of Elections’ latest statistics at AFRO press time.

The elections allowed Maryland voters to choose their Democratic and Republican candidates for several critical positions, including governor, state senators and delegates and all eight Maryland seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Myron Sears, a longtime election judge and resident of Baltimore explained how the weather impacted the turnout at the Public Safety Training Center in the Park Heights area.

“We have not seen a lot of people today. Earlier, before the rain got heavy, it was slow but steady,” said Sears of voter turnout. “I worked two days of early voting, and I think on both days we got 300 to 400 people, so that was a lot better than this morning. But hopefully when the rain stops, the crowds will pick up. We’re open till 8 p.m. Anybody in line or in the building by 8 will be able to vote. ”

Despite the poor weather, Sears implored voters to remain energized and get out to vote. 

“Whether you like how your government is working or you don’t like it, I feel it’s of the utmost importance to participate,” Sears said. “If you don’t vote, you’re not participating. If you’re not participating, you’re letting others dictate how you live, where you live, and your views. You don’t get your views out unless you vote.”

Lebra Foster, a voter in Baltimore County, added that inclement weather shouldn’t stop people from going to vote. 

“It’s so important to vote. Now, if you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice, especially with African Americans,” Foster told the AFRO. “We need to be out there if nobody else is.”

Tanya Hairston, a voter at the Public Safety Training Center in Northwest Baltimore, agreed that African Americans have a responsibility to vote given the sacrifices made by their ancestors to secure that right.

“So many people before us gave us this privilege, so I definitely don’t take it for granted,” she said. 

While the rain might have impacted turnout on election day, many voters took advantage of early voting. According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, more than 185,000 people voted across the state during the early voting period.

Churches and Divine Nine organizations engaged in Get Out the Vote campaigns in the lead-up to the elections.

“The mobilization of the church is not just about church folk. It is reaching out to anyone in the community who has stakes in survival,” said Rev. Brian Murray, senior pastor of New Covenant Community United Church of Christ, during a June 15 press conference. “We want people to reach out to their relatives, to the unchurched, the people who say their votes do not matter. We encourage you to give, as people of the church, to the community. Give them encouragement, give them transportation, give them all the reasons they need to step into a polling booth and vote for the candidate of their choosing.”

Foster said she was motivated to vote because the community needs leaders who will address their everyday concerns.

“I came to vote because I want to make a change, and that’s the only way I could do it,” Foster said. “Important issues like food cost, utility costs, stuff like that. We need to have the right people who will make good decisions.”

Regina Brown, from Northwest Baltimore, agreed with Foster’s belief that the cost of living is an important issue this cycle, specifically highlighting high gas and food prices. Brown also made a call to action, urging her fellow citizens to utilize their rights. 

“Everybody come out and get your vote out, because if you don’t vote, you can’t say anything. Speak up. That’s the First Amendment. Speak up. Let your voice be heard,” said Brown. “I’ve been voting a long time because it’s my civic duty. I think everyone should vote. How are you going to try and voice your opinion if you don’t vote? You have no opinion.” 

After voting, 87-year-old Baltimore County resident Amy Rawlings commented on the importance of voting. 

“I had to come to vote today because we have people who come to our neighborhood meetings, they speak with us and they help us with the problems we have,” Rawlings explained. “I think it’s so important–especially now that we’re living the life we’re living–that we push a little harder and everyone gets out to vote. Please make that extra effort to come out and vote. It is so terribly important, in this day and age.”

For Michael Parker, all people should exercise their constitutional rights and vote. 

“Voting is your constitutional right as a free person of the United States of America, and people have died for that vote. If you have any say so in your life and the life that you’re trying to lead, and any type of situation that you’re in, you’re supposed to vote,” Parker said. 

“How can you complain about what’s going on in the world if you can’t put input in? If you don’t vote, there’s nothing you can say,” Parker continued. “So as long as Black people want to have social equality and social benefits, we need to give our input.”