A drop-off ballot box placed near Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Center in Landover on July 26. Photo by William J. Ford.
Lorrie Rogers said several of her friends and neighbors at the Collington senior residential development already filled out and returned their mail-in ballots for the special election to fill an at-large Prince George’s County Council seat.
Rogers plans to hold on to her and her husband, Jim’s, ballots, even though he’s itching to vote.
“Jim is the type of guy in terms of taking care of business. Do not put off what you can take care of today. I say, ‘Be patient,’” she said.
She can’t be patient for too long: Early voting centers open Wednesday and the primary election is next Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Nine voting centers will be available for people to cast their ballot at these locations:
Accokeek Academy
Ardmore Elementary School
Calverton Elementary
Carrollton Elementary
Non-Traditional Program at Edgar Allen Poe in Suitland
Isaac J. Gourdine Middle School in Fort Washington
Robert Goddard Montessori School in Lanham
Non-Traditional Program North (Tall Oaks Vocational High School) in Bowie
Thomas Stone Elementary in Mount Rainier
The voting centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and again on Monday, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. On Tuesday, the voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters who don’t want to stand in line to cast ballots in person can either mail their ballots, or place them inside one of 39 drop boxes stationed throughout the county. Nine of those ballot boxes will also be at the voting centers.
The seat became vacant last month after former at-large Council Member Jamel “Mel” Franklin abruptly resigned. About a week later, he was charged with multiple counts in what authorities said was a theft scheme that involved more than $133,000 from his campaign account.
Winners of the Aug. 6 primary will face off in the Nov. 5 general election. The winner of that race will serve the remaining two years of Franklin’s term.
The eight Democrats seeking the vacant seat are Bowie Mayor Tim Adams, former Del. Angela M. Angel, Leo Bachi Eyombo, Tamara Davis Brown, state Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr., Council Chair Jolene Ivey, Judy Mickens-Murray and Gabriel Njinimbot.
Democrat Keisha Lewis’s name appears on the ballot, but she withdrew her candidacy earlier this month.
Four Republicans – Kamita Gray, Michael Riker, Isaac Toyos and Jonathan White – will face off for the chance to seek a seat in the heavily Democratic county.
There have been at least two forums for candidates to talk about their platforms and answer questions from voters. A third forum hosted by the Prince George’s County NAACP branch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale.