Charles County



Voter Education Charles CountyElections are the core of our democracy and this one is too important to leave to chance. By merely planning ahead, we can all do our part to help secure our democracy and keep our elections safe and fair.??Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Charles County PAGEREF _Toc51658335 \h 3Voter Education PAGEREF _Toc51658336 \h 3Deadline to Register to Vote PAGEREF _Toc51658337 \h 3Early Voting PAGEREF _Toc51658338 \h 3General Election Day: PAGEREF _Toc51658339 \h 3Vote by Mail PAGEREF _Toc51658340 \h 4Access by Voters with Disabilities PAGEREF _Toc51658341 \h 5Voting Centers and Dropboxes PAGEREF _Toc51658342 \h 5List of Candidates PAGEREF _Toc51658343 \h 6Other Items on the Ballot PAGEREF _Toc51658344 \h 10Sample Ballot for Charles County PAGEREF _Toc51658345 \h 11Does Your Vote Count? The Electoral College Explained PAGEREF _Toc51658346 \h 12Charles CountyVoter EducationImportant Dates: Deadline to Register to Vote: Oct. 13, 2020 5 p.m. Is the deadline to register to vote in the 2020 Presidential General ElectionEarly Voting Oct. 26, 2020 thru Nov. 2, 2020. 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Go to your polling place; in-person voting). Bring personal identification and your Voter Notification Card with you to the polling place.Election Day?- November 3, 2020, 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.Early Voting - Mon., October 26, 2020 - Mon. - November 2, 2020 7am- 8pmCharles County Early Voting Centers and Election Day Voting Centers. Voters can vote in-person at the site of their choice. View the 2020 Early Voting and Election Day Vote CentersThe Charles County Board of Elections encourages everyone to vote by mail in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. ?General Election Day: Nov. 3, 2020 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Go to your polling place; in-person voting). Bring personal identification and your Voter Notification Card with you to the polling place.Deadline to request a Mail-In Ballot: Your request must be received (not just mailed) by Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. on October 20, 2020.Board of Elections began to send mail-in ballot request forms on August 24.Much of the information in this document can be found on the Maryland State Board of Elections website at: and/or General Election?- November 3, 2020, 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.Early Voting for the General Election - Voters have the option of voting early,?in-person, at their polling place.? Again, you should bring personal identification and your Voter Notification Card with you to the polling place.? Early voting starts on Monday October 26, 2020 and goes through Monday, November 2, 2020 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.For more details on early voting: Voting – As you are aware, ballots were sent to everyone, for the Primary election; however, you will need to request a Mail-In ballot for the General election (see Vote by Mail below). Review the questions on this link: State Board of Elections has voted to establish a deadline of October 20, 2020, for the submission of applications for a voter to receive a mail-in ballot by mail, Internet or fax delivery.Vote by MailAll registered voters will be sent an Application for a Mail-In Voting Ballot in the mail, which you should receive in September 2020. Voters should return the completed Application ASAP to receive the Ballot. Once a voter receives the actual Ballot, complete it and return by mail ASAP. (Return addressed envelope included in the Application). It must be postmarked by November 3, 2020. You can also text “VBM” to 77788 to receive vote by mail application on your cell-phone. You must mail or hand deliver your voted ballot. You?cannot?submit your voted ballot online, by email or fax.County Board of Elections () encourages all to vote by mail due to Covid-19. Voters are being encouraged to vote by mail and you should mail your completed ballots ASAP.?However, because of recent controversy with the Post Office and possible delays in the mail system, you have another seemingly safer option which is to deliver your completed ballot to a Drop Box. Voters will have the option to Drop Off completed Ballots at Drop Box Locations to assure that your Ballot is received by Nov. 3, 2020. (Note, this pertains to completed?Ballots,?not the?Application?for Mail-In Ballots).? These Drop Boxes are usually large metal white boxes (not the blue metal post office boxes) that will be available throughout the County.? The locations of these boxes have not yet been determined.? When you receive your Ballots, the locations of the Drop Boxes will be included. You can also contact the County Board of Elections for their locations.? A heavy volume of mail-in ballots is expected by the Post Office especially approaching Nov. 3 Importantly, when you drop off your completed ballot at the Drop Box, it is handled by the County Board of Elections, not the Post Office.?The County Board of Elections will pick up the deposited ballots several times per day and deliver them to the Board of Elections to be sorted and counted (totally by-passing the Post Office).???You can confirm that your completed ballot was received and counted by contacting the County Board of Elections.? (Therefore, at this time, the Drop Boxes may be a safer and better method for delivering your ballot and having your vote counted this term).? Ballot drop boxes will be open until 8 pm on November 3.? Drop Box Locations - CC 2020 Pres Gen Drop off Locations. This list may be updated to include new drop box locations as they become available. Remember, the earlier you vote, the better. Voters have the option of voting in-person on Tues, Nov. 3, 2020. Bring personal identification and your Voter Notification Card with you to the polling place.? Contact the County Board of Elections for further details. Check with your County Council representative for Questions, Amendments, Charters, etc. on the Ballot that requires explanation. Access by Voters with DisabilitiesMaryland is committed to making voting accessible to all voters. Almost all of Maryland’s polling places are accessible to voters with disabilities on election day. All of the early voting centers in Maryland are accessible to voters with disabilities. Details can be found at this link: Voter Registration Are you registered to vote??Find out hereTo register to vote, you must be: a U.S. citizen; Maryland resident; and 16 years of age (to register to vote).? You may register to vote if you are 16 years old by Oct 13, 2020 but you must be 18 years old by Nov. 3, 2020 to actually vote in the Nov. 3, 2020 Presidential Election. ?Also, you can contact the County Board of Elections to confirm that you are registered to vote or call at (301) 341-7300, between 8 am and 4:30 pm. or send email to:?elections@You may register to vote either on-line “Vote by Mail”, in-person, or by mail. Visit: if you miss the registration deadline - it’s okay. You can register and vote on the same day during Early Voting or on Election Day.Visit Maryland State Board of Elections for more info on the 2020 General Election. Centers and DropboxesVoting Locations Droboxes drop boxes will be open until 8 pm on November 3.? Drop Box Locations - CC 2020 Pres Gen Drop off Locations. This list may be updated to include new drop box locations as they become available. Remember, the earlier you vote, the better.Charles County Board of Elections East Charles Street *La Plata, MD 20646Phone: 800-222-VOTE– M-F 8 am – 4:30 pmOpen by appointment only due to Covid-19. Call to make appointment.?(Note: Voters outside of Prince George’s County should contact their County/City Board of Elections for voting information.)List of CandidatesCandidates for President:left153035This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA00This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SAleft3175This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA00This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Republican – Donald J. Trump - Pence - Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA00This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Joe Biden – Presidential Nominee - Kalama Harris –Vice Presidential Nominee - - Jo Jorgensen - (Party focus: the health of our planet, and future generations)Green - Howie Gresham Hawkins - Angela Walker (Party focus: Socialist)Bread and Roses - Jerome M. Segal - John de Graaf **********************************left7620This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA00This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Republican – Donald J. Trump - Pence - Donald Trump has not addressed any issues on his websitePlatform: President Donald TrumpTranscript: Donald Trump’s 2020 RNC Speech Note: President Trump does not address any issues on his website--he only states his accomplishments as President. Note: Fact Check: Trump's Address to The Republican Convention, Annotated Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA00This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Democratic – Joe Biden - Presidential Nominee - Kalama Harris –Vice Presidential Nominee - - We aren’t just going to rebuild what has worked in the past. This is our opportunity to build back better than ever. Visit Joe Biden has many visions which he plan to handle. Five are listed below. Please view link for more of Joe Biden’s Bold Ideals and Vision for America.1) THE BIDEN PLAN TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND PREPARE FOR FUTURE GLOBAL HEALTH THREATSThat is why Joe Biden is outlining a plan:?A?decisive public health response?that ensures the wide availability of free testing; the elimination of all cost barriers to preventive care and treatment for COVID-19; the development of a vaccine; and the full deployment and operation of necessary supplies, personnel, and facilities.A?decisive economic response?that starts with emergency paid leave for all those affected by the outbreak and gives all necessary help to workers, families, and small businesses that are hit hard by this crisis. Biden will be ready on Day One of his Administration to protect this country’s health and well-being. But he is not waiting until then to communicate his views on what must be done now to properly serve the American people. Biden believes the following steps must immediately be taken. The Biden Plan calls for:-- Restoring trust, credibility, and common purpose.-- Mounting an effective national emergency response that saves lives, protects frontline workers, and minimizes the spread of COVID-19.-- Eliminating cost barriers for prevention of and care for COVID-19.-- Pursuing decisive economic measures to help hard-hit workers, families, and small businesses and to stabilize the American economy.-- Rallying the world to confront this crisis while laying the foundation for the future.2) Lift Every Voice: The Biden Plan for Black AmericaJoe Biden knows that African Americans can never have a fair shot at the American Dream so long as entrenched disparities are allowed to quietly chip away at opportunity. He is running for President to rebuild our economy in a way that finally brings everyone along—and that starts by rooting out systemic racism from our laws, our policies, our institutions, and our hearts.The Biden Plan for Black America will:?-- Advance the economic mobility of African Americans and close the racial wealth and income gaps.-- Expand access to high-quality education and tackle racial inequity in our education system.-- Make far-reaching investments in ending health disparities by race.-- Strengthen America’s commitment to justice.-- Make the right to vote and the right to equal protection real for African Americans.-- Address environmental justice.3) The Biden Plan for Health CareOn March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, with Vice President Biden standing by his side, and made history. It was a victory 100 years in the making. It was the conclusion of a tough fight that required taking on Republicans, special interests, and the status quo to do what’s right. But the Obama-Biden Administration got it done.Today, the Affordable Care Act is still a big deal. Because of Obamacare, over?100 million people?no longer have to worry that an insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher premiums just because they have a?pre-existing condition?– whether cancer or diabetes or heart disease or a mental health challenge. Insurance companies?can no longer set annual or lifetime limits?on coverage.The Biden plan to protect & build on the Affordable Care Act-- Give every American access to affordable health insurance-- Provide the peace of mind of affordable, quality health care and a less complex healthcare system-- Stand up to abuse of power by prescription drug corporations -- Ensure health care is a right for all, not a privilege for just a few4) The Biden Plan for Older Americans and RetirementThe moral obligation of our time is rebuilding the middle class. The middle class isn’t a number, it’s a value set. And, a key component of that value set is having a steady, secure income as you age so your kids won’t have to take care of you in retirement.-- Stand up to the abuse of power by prescription drug corporations-- Protect and strengthen Medicare as we know it and ensure quality, affordable health care for all older Americans-- Preserve and strengthen Social Security-- Equalize saving incentives for middle-class workers-- Provide help for older workers who want to keep working5) The Biden Plan for Ending Gun ViolenceJoe Biden knows that gun violence is a public health epidemic. Almost?40,000 people?die as a result of firearm injuries every year in the United States, and many more are wounded. Some of these deaths and injuries are the result of mass shootings that make national headlines. Others are the result of daily acts of gun violence or suicides that may not make national headlines, but are just as devastating to the families and communities left behind.Joe Biden has taken on the National Rifle Association (NRA) on the national stage and won – twice.He knows how to make progress on reducing gun violence using executive action. As president, he will continue to prioritize funding and ensure that the FBI is adequately funded to accurately and efficiently handle the NICS system.-- Addressing the deadly combination of guns and domestic violence-- Tackle urban gun violence with targeted, evidence-based community interventions-- Supporting survivors of violence and their communities.District 05 – U.S. RepresentativeRepublican – Chris Palombi (PG&CC) - – Steny Hoyer - - of the Circuit Court 07 Republican - Patrick Devine - - Makeba Gibbs - Davis - Judge, Court of Appeals – Circuit 5 Jonathan BironJudge, Court of Special Appeal At Large E. Gregory WellsCharles County - Board of Commissioners Charles County is governed by a board of five County Commissioners who are elected at-large to four-year terms. The Charles County Commissioners are responsible for: raising revenues to fund the capital and operating budgets of County departments and agencies; providing for the public health, safety, and welfare of County residents; adopting and updating the Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance and overseeing the development process; establishing, promulgating, and enforcing County rules, regulations, ordinances, policies, and procedures; appointing boards, commissions, and task forces to advise them and make recommendations; and fulfilling the mission of Charles County Government and serving on various board and councils in the County, region, and State. The President presides at meetings and hearings of the Commissioners. The President is the only full-time position, and may reside anywhere in the County. The other four Commissioners, who each represent a Commissioner District in which they must reside, are part-time.Charles County - Board of Commissioners each candidate’s bio at: Meet the Commissioners videosReuben B. Collins, II, Esq. - Commissioner President Rucci - Commissioner Vice President - District 4 "BJ" O. Bowling, III – District 1 O. Coates, M.S - District 2 M. Stewart, M.Ed. - District 3 Items on the Ballot (Questions/Amendments/Initiatives/Referendum/Charters)Question 1- Constitutional AmendmentBalancing the State BudgetThe proposed constitutional amendment authorizes the general Assembly, in enacting a balanced budget bill for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, to increase, diminish, or add items, provided that the general Assembly may not exceed the total proposed budget as submitted by the Governor.(Amending Article II Section 17 and Article III Section 14 and 52 of the Maryland Constitution)_____ For the Constitutional Amendment_____ Against the Constitution AmendmentChapter 645 of 2020 (Senate Bill 1028) Summary - This proposed constitutional amendment would alter the State’s budget process. Under current provisions of the State Constitution, the Governor annually submits for approval by the General Assembly a proposed operating budget, which contains the planned funding levels for all three branches of State government – the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches. In approving the operating budget, the General Assembly may not increase or add funding for the Executive Branch, but it may increase funding for the Legislative and Judicial Branches. Except for expenditures required by the State Constitution, the General Assembly may decrease funding in the operating budget for each of the three branches of State government. Once the General Assembly approves the operating budget, it becomes law immediately without further action by the Governor. Under this proposed constitutional amendment, the General Assembly, beginning with the 2023 Legislative Session, would be authorized to increase or add funding in the operating budget, so long as the total level of funding approved by the General Assembly for the Executive Branch does not exceed the total level of funding proposed by the Governor for the Executive Branch. The Governor would be authorized to use a line item veto to reject an individual budget item where the General Assembly increased or added funding to the Governor’s proposed budget for the Executive Branch. The General Assembly would be authorized to override such a veto with a three-fifths vote of the membership in each chamber. If the Governor vetoes a budget item that was increased by the General Assembly and the General Assembly does not override that veto, then the level of funding for that item would revert back to the amount proposed by the Governor. If the Governor vetoes a budget item that was added by the General Assembly and the General Assembly does not override that veto, then that item becomes void.Question 2 – Referendum By Legislative ActionExpansion of Commercial Gaming – Sporting and Event Wagering Referendum and Minority Business Enterprise Disparity StudyDo you approve the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education?_____ For the referred law_____ Against the referred lawChapter 492 of 2020 (Senate Bill 4) Summary - If the voters statewide approve this referendum, Chapter 492 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2020 will authorize the General Assembly to pass a law allowing the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses to offer betting in the State on sports and other competitive events. Such a law must specify (1) who is eligible to apply for a license to operate sports and event betting; (2) what forms of betting are allowed; (3) how betting must be conducted; and (4) where an individual can place a bet. Chapter 492 also provides that State revenues generated by sports and event betting must be used primarily for funding public education. Article XIX of the Maryland Constitution, approved by the voters at the November 2008 general election, authorized commercial gaming by the operation of video lottery terminals, also known as slot machines, at multiple locations in the State. Article XIX also requires that additional forms or an expansion of commercial gaming in the State, such as the legalization of sports and event betting, be approved by referendum in a general election. Betting on sports in most states was illegal under federal law until the United States Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that the federal law was unconstitutional. As a result, states are free to authorize sports betting. Under current Maryland law, betting on sports is illegal. Sports and event betting is a gambling activity in which an individual places a bet on the results of a sporting event or a particular play or action during a sporting event. Sports and event betting can also extend to non–athletic events, such as reality television competitions or entertainment awards shows. Sample Ballot for Charles County Does Your Vote Count? The Electoral College ExplainedLegislative CornerDoes Your Vote Count? The Electoral College Explained Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained - Christina GreerThe Electoral College in 2020The following is a summary of how the Electoral College will work in the 2020 presidential election:Spring and Summer 2020: Nomination of Electors. The political parties in each state nominate their electors. Parties and states have different ways of going about this, but a party's presidential electors are generally loyal or consistent party members. The parties want to be sure they can rely on their electors to cast their votes for the party's nominee for president.Nov. 3, 2020: Election Day, when voters in each state will select their presidential electors. The names of electors are not on the ballot in most states. Rather, when a voter casts a vote for a presidential candidate, s/he is also casting a vote for the electors already selected by the party of that candidate. If majority of voters in a state vote for the Republican candidate for president, the Republican slate of electors is elected. If a majority vote for the Democratic candidate, the Democratic slate of electors is chosen.Dec. 8, 2020: Deadline for Resolving Election Disputes. All state recounts and court contests over presidential election results must be completed by this date.Dec. 14, 2020: Meeting of the Electors. The electors meet in each state and cast their ballots for president and vice president. Each elector votes on his or her own ballot and signs it. The ballots are immediately transmitted to various people: one copy goes to the president of the U.S. Senate (who is also the vice president of the United States); this is the copy that will be officially counted later. Other copies go to the state's secretary of state, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the presiding judge in the district where the electors meet (this serves as a backup copy that would replace the official copy sent to the president of the Senate if it is lost or destroyed).Dec. 23, 2020: Deadline for Receipt of Ballots. The electors' ballots from all states must be received by the president of the Senate by this date. There is no penalty for missing this deadline.Jan. 6, 2021: Counting of the Electoral Ballots. The U.S. Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes.Jan. 20, 2021: Inauguration Day. The president-elect becomes the president of the United States.Nomination of ElectorsThe U.S. Constitution does not specify procedures for the nomination of candidates for presidential elector. The two most common methods the states have adopted are nomination by state party convention and by state party committee. Generally, the parties select members known for their loyalty and service to the party, such as party leaders, state and local elected officials and party activists. In some states, the electors' names appear on the ballot along with the names of the candidates for president and vice president. However, in most states, electors' names are not printed on the ballot. When a voter casts a vote for a candidate for President of the United States, s/he is casting a vote for the presidential electors who were selected by that candidate's party.Awarding Electoral VotesAll 50 states and the District of Columbia use one of two methods for awarding their electoral votes:The Winner-Take-All SystemIn 48 states and the District of Columbia, when a candidate for president wins a state's popular vote, that party's slate of electors will be the ones to cast the vote for president of the United States in December. For example, Florida has 29 electoral votes. If President Donald Trump wins the state's popular vote on Nov. 3, the 29 electors nominated by the Republican Party in Florida will be selected. These 29 people will gather on Dec. 14 to cast their votes for president of the United States.The District SystemMaine and Nebraska are the only states that do not use a winner-take-all system. Instead, in these two states, one electoral vote is awarded to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in each congressional district, and the remaining two electoral votes are awarded to the candidates receiving the most votes statewide. This is known as the district system. It is possible under the district system to split the electoral vote for the state. This happened in 2008 in Nebraska: Barack Obama won the electoral vote in the congressional district including Omaha, while John McCain won in the state's other two districts and won the statewide vote as well, securing the state's two at-large votes. Thus, when the Nebraska presidential electors met in December 2008, there were four Republican electors and one Democrat. That election was the first time Nebraska's electoral vote was split.SourceNational Conference of State Legislatures: The Electoral College in 2020 – , Christina Greer - ................
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