THE GAZETTE
Page A-6
BLAME
Continued from Page A-1 have fallen victim to altered voter registrations, a problem local officials say is a computer glitch at the Motor Vehicle Administration and what state officials say is a local failure to properly process the applications. Both Debernardis and Mauri have traced the change in their voter registrations to separate visits to the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Walnut Hill center in Gaithersburg. In January, Debernardis visited the facility to renew his driver’s license. On Jan. 22 at midnight, his party affiliation was changed to “other,” according to an electronic voter registration form filed with the Board of Elections. In March, Mauri said he made a similar visit to the Wal-
nut Hill facility to replace a lost license. On March 25 at midnight, his registration also was changed to “other.” Margaret Jurgensen, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, said her board is investigating the issue. When the county board identifies problems, it notifies state officials, who work with the motor vehicles agency, she said. “Different issues have arisen in the past and the state board works with [the agency] to correct those issues.” Her board has known about other problems with registrations at the motor vehicle agency for about the past two years, Jurgensen said. Jurgensen has experienced the issues first-hand. She said that when she went to renew her license, she was asked if she wanted to register to vote, and while she said “no,” a new voter
“We thought that we were exposing something to them that they didn’t know about.” Carl Mauri registration was nonetheless generated. As for what happened to Debernardis and Mauri, the Motor Vehicle Administration claims no knowledge of the situation. Agency spokesman Buel C. Young said no such problem has been reported to the agency, nor have complaints been filed that the forms being submitted to the State Board of Elections are in error. Young said each clerk at the Motor Vehicle Administration is supposed to ask drivers renew-
ing or replacing a license if they want to update their voter registration. Specifically, a computer will prompt clerks to ask if a driver wishes “to update your party affiliation.” To continue through the computer system, either a “yes” or a “no” button must be pushed, he said. But no such question was asked of Mauri or Debernardis when they visited the Walnut Hill center, both men said. Mary Wagner, director of voter registration with the State
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 r Board of Elections, said the problem lies not with the Motor Vehicle Administration, but rather with the Montgomery County Board of Elections. The county board is “not processing the applications correctly,” Wagner alleged. Jurgensen said the county board is following “to the letter” instructions for processing the applications, instructions that were provided to the county by Wagner’s office. And state voter registration data show that the lion’s share of voter registration forms are submitted through the Motor Vehicle Administration, which both Debernardis and Mauri claim is the source of their problem. As fingers point in various directions, Mauri called the excuses bull and said the problem only continues. “We thought that we were exposing something to them
that they didn’t know about,” he said. When he learned that the board had known about other problems for almost two years, Mauri said he almost laughed. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. Questioning how a similar error could happen to the county’s highest election official and not be fixed, Debernardis concluded that the registrations are “a problem nobody seems to be caring about.” Prior to the June 24 election, the county elections board surveyed voters to detect potentially erroneous voter registration changes. Jurgensen estimated a “couple hundred” voters have been affected. Provisional ballots cast by such voters — including Debernardis and Mauri — were counted in the primary. kalexander@gazette.net
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Auto theft • Between 12:39 p.m. July 26 and 12:39 p.m. Aug. 2 in the 200 block of Congressional Lane, Rockville. The complainant reported that an unknown subject removed her vehicle from an apartment parking lot.
Sexual assault • On July 26 in the 18200 block of Slade School Road, Sandy Spring. The subject is known to the victim. • On July 27 between 4 and 4:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of Halesworth Drive, Potomac. The subject is known to the victim. Strong-arm robbery • On July 22 at 10:28 p.m. in the 15900 block of Frederick Road, Rockville. The subjects assaulted the victim and took property.
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Armed robbery • On July 30 at 12:30 a.m. in the 14100 block of Weeping Willow Drive, Aspen Hill. The subject is known to the victim.
Scam • On July 29 at 7 p.m. at Montrose Crossing Center, 12097 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. The subjects offered to “repair” scratches on the victim’s vehicle for a set price, failed to fully repair scratches and demanded a higher amount of money.
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The following is a summary of incidents in the Rockville area to which Montgomery County and/or Rockville city police responded recently. The words “arrested” and “charged” do not imply guilt. This information was provided by the county and Rockville city police media services office.
Aggravated assault • On July 24 at 12:43 a.m. in the 13700 block of Lambertina Place, Rockville. The subject is known to the victim. • On July 25 at 8:07 p.m. in the 100 block of Frederick Avenue, Rockville. The subject is known to the victim. • On July 26 at 10:38 p.m. at Bel Pre Road and Georgia Avenue, Rockville. The subject is known to the victim. • On July 28 at 7 p.m. at N. Stonestreet and Frederick avenues, Rockville. The subject is known to the victim. Assault • On July 28 at 7 p.m. in the area of North Stonestreet and Frederick avenues, Rockville. The complainant reported that she had gotten off the bus when she was approached by a group. As the group approached, a
subject yelled and ordered the group to assault the complainant. One of the subjects produced a knife, but the complainant defended herself and the subjects fled.
Commercial burglary • On July 23 at 9:54 p.m. in the 18400 block of Georgia Avenue, Olney. Unknown entry, took nothing. • On July 25 between 9 and 10:53 p.m. at Century Distributors, 15710 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood. Forced entry, took nothing. • On July 28 in the 15100 block of Interlachen Drive, Silver Spring. Unknown entry into storage room, took property. Indecent exposure • On July 24 at 2:42 a.m. at McDonalds, 15801 Frederick Road, Derwood. Residential burglary • 3300 block of May Street, Silver Spring, on July 24. No forced entry, took property. • 3500 block of Olympic Street, Silver Spring, on July 24. Forced entry, took property. • 13300 block of Foxhall Drive, Silver Spring, between 8 and 11 a.m. July 24. Forced entry, took property. • Two incidents in the 18500 block of Viburnum Way, Olney, at 3 p.m. July 24. Took property from unlocked garages. • 900 block of Baltimore Road, Rockville, between 8 a.m. July 26 and 11 p.m. Aug. 1. Unknown subject unsuccessfully tried to pry open a rear door to a residence. • 8800 block of Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, at 11:06 a.m. July 26. Forced entry, unknown what was taken. • 13100 block of Hutchinson Way, Silver Spring, at 5:45 p.m. July 28. No forced entry, took nothing. • 18900 block of Abbey Manor Drive, Brookeville, at 7:37 p.m. July 28. • 900 block of Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, between 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. July 30. Unknown subject gained entry by unknown means into a residence and took a laptop, cash, a camera, a wireless speaker and several bottles of perfume. Theft • On July 24 at 8:05 a.m. at the bus stop at Fleet and Monroe streets, Rockville. The subject took property from the victim and fled. • On July 25 between 5:05 and 5:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Seven Locks Road, Rockville. Five unknown subjects entered the business and exited the store with several items that had not been paid for. • On July 28 between 2:30 and 3 p.m. in the 600 block of Harrington Road, Rockville. The complainant reported that an unknown subject opened her purse and removed an iPad while she was sleeping. A witness said three unknown subjects were observed opening complainant’s purse and fleeing toward Maryland Avenue. • On July 29 between 11:40 and 11:45 a.m. in the unit block of Maryland Avenue, Rockville. The complainant reported that an unknown subject removed her unattended phone from a bathroom. Vehicle larceny • Eighteen incidents in the King Farm area of Rockville between July 20 and 29. Took cash, GPS units and iPods. • Three incidents in North Potomac on July 21. Took GPS unit. Affected streets include Pissaro Terrace and Pebblewood Place. • Two incidents in Poolesville on July 21. Took a wallet. Affected streets include Bliss and Briarley Hall drives. • 12300 block of Village Square Terrace, North Bethesda, between 9 p.m. July 23 and 8 a.m. July 24. No sign of forced entry. Took coins. • 200 block of Congressional Lane, Rockville, between 12:01 a.m. July 28 and 10:40 a.m. Aug. 2. Unknown subject took two pairs of sunglasses and a GPS unit from a vehicle. • 1500 block of Rockville Pike, Rockville, between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. July 29. Unknown subject took a laptop and a hotspot from a vehicle. • 600 block of Hungerford Drive, Rockville, at 2 p.m. Aug. 3. The complainant reported that an unknown subject removed a cellphone from an unlocked vehicle. The complainant observed the subject standing next to his vehicle. The complainant’s phone later was found in a nearby grassy area of the listed location.