Registered voters in Carroll County have trickled into the polls since early voting for the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial primary election began.
Almost 1,900 Carroll residents have cast ballots since Thursday, June 14, at 10 a.m., according to the county Board of Elections.
And registered Carroll voters for the first time had to choose where to vote early, as the county on Thursday inaugurated a second early-voting center at the South Carroll Swim Club.
Over the first four days, 416 people cast early ballots in South Carroll, compared to 1,483 at the Westminster Senior Activities Center, which had served as the county’s lone early-voting post in past elections.
“The centers seem to be going great,” said Katherine Berry, the county director of elections. “They seem to be accessible to people all over the county.”
More than 4,300 people voted early in Carroll County during the 2014 gubernatorial primary election, said Berry, who also noted that historically gubernatorial primaries have low turnouts.
But there is still plenty of time for voters to hit the polls this year, as early voting is open through Thursday, June 21. Election day for the primary is set for Tuesday, June 26, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Statewide races include governor, comptroller and attorney general, as well as representatives in the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate for their respective districts. Voters will also choose party candidates for representative in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
County races include the Board of County Commissioners, Circuit Court and Orphan’s Court judges, register of wills, Circuit Court clerk, sheriff and state’s attorney. Republicans and Democrats will also vote for members of their respective county central committees.
Adding a second voting location is a good test run, Berry said, as it appears Carroll County will soon be mandated by the state to add a third location.
There are currently 122,091 active voters in the county. Once that number reaches 125,000 the county must add a third early voting location, in accordance with state law, Berry said.
