PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Vote Like Your Life Depends on It: Panel By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Less than two months away from the Nov. 3 general election, NAACP President Derrick Johnson suggested three ways for Americans to overcome attempts at voter suppression: policy change, legal action and voter turnout. “That is the trajectory we must be on,” Johnson said. “We are done dying and public policy is killing us. We must take the
power in our own hands.” Johnson joined a panel Thursday, Sept. 3 entitled “From the Mailbox to the Ballot Box: Exercising Your Right to Vote in the Age of COVID-19.” It marked the fourth day of the Con- 5 Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel for NAACP Legal Defense Fund, participates on a virtual voting panel Sept. 3 during gressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation annual legislative conference. (Screen grab: CBCF) annual legislative conference which ican participation in the nation’s his“It’s not often you get a chance to provisions to increase federal superviwas held virtually for the first time. The conference, usually held at the tory and will feature topics on crim- meet your real-life hero,” said Rep. sion on state election policies, mainly Walter E. Washington Convention inal justice reform and statehood for Terri Sewell (D-Ala.). “When I think in southern states and to eliminate about John’s legacy, nothing was pre-clearance policy changes, such as Center in Northwest, will be con- D.C. A key participant will be missing more important than voting rights.” requiring photo ID’s to vote. ducted online through Oct. 2. The House voted in December to The U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 This year’s theme, “Now is Our this year: the late Rep. John Lewis update the Voting Rights Act with ruled the law’s pre-clearance proviTime,” focuses on the African Amer- (D-Ga.). sion focused on data from decades ago that is not relevant to today. The Democratic-controlled House voted to rename the voting rights bill for Lewis in July, but remains in the Senate, a chamber controlled by the social “This is going to be a historic turnout maintain GOP. for this election and we’re going to do distance during the On Thursday, the speakers spoke everything we can to prepare for it.” ongoing coronaviabout this year’s election with elected Alsobrooks said the county expects rus pandemic. Beofficials in the South such as Senate voter turnout to exceed the number of cause of the virus, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voters who showed up to cast ballots voters are encour(R). He faces a challenge in Kentucky aged to primarily in the June 2 primary. from Democratic nominee Amy McAccording to final audit numbers, cast their ballots by Grath. out of 521,877 ballots mailed, about mail. “All Black folks need to be depuThousands of 240,880 voters, or 46 percent, partictized and see themselves responsible ipated in this year’s primary election. Maryland voters for at least 10 voters (to vote),” said Approximately 231,711 voters re- have received apLaTosha Brown, co-founder of the turned their ballots by mail or placed plications to apply 5 Mail-in ballot requests from each Maryland jurisdiction. Black Voters Matter Fund, a nonfor mail-in ballots. (Photo: Courtesy of Maryland Board of Elections) them in drop-off boxes. profit organization that pushes for As of Thursday, The 46% turnout was second only Black participation in voter registraThe state approved for Prince to voter participation in the 2008 a p p rox i m a t e l y tion through grassroots movement. George’s 11 early voting sites to have primary when Barack Obama and 497,514 voters have requested mail-in “Who is setting the policy priorities and have selected 29 high schools for Hillary Clinton were competing for ballots, according to the state board of in this country right now? They’re the Nov. 3 election. the Democratic presidential nomina- elections. from Kentucky. They’re from South Prince George’s Election AdminisAbout 51,300 ballot requests came tion. During that election, about 48 Carolina…where Black folks are livpercent of registered voters in Prince from Prince George’s, which ranks trator Alisha Alexander said the couning. It’s not just about participation, fourth in the state. The highest num- ty is trying to recruit election judges George’s cast a ballot. If FedEx Field gets approved to be- ber of mail-in requests --124,551-- who are registered Republicans. If not but it’s about power.” Sherrilyn Ifill, president and dicome a polling center, voting stations came from neighboring Montgomery enough are available, she said regisrector-counsel for NAACP Legal tered voters who are registered as inwould be set up along the concourse County. Defense Fund, said the country faces For those who choose to vote in dependent would be used in place of area. two pandemics: COVID-19 and racThe move not only would provide person, early voting in Maryland runs a Republican judge. WI a larger venue, but also keep voters from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2.
Fed-Ex Field Eyed as a Nov. 3 Voting Site in Prince George’s By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill FedEx Field in Landover could be transformed into a polling center for Prince George’s County voters on Election Day. Before voting booths, ballots and elections judges converge at the more than 80,000-seat stadium, the Maryland Board of Elections plan to meet Friday, Sept. 11 and must grant formal approval. The county’s Board of Elections scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday, Sept. 9 for the stadium to become its 41st polling center for the presidential general election Nov. 3. “We are going to do everything we in our power to make sure that absolutely nothing stops Prince George’s County from being able to show up in this next election,” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who told reporters about the plan at a Sept. 3 news conference.
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