Marylanders cast ballots in final hours of early voting as independents challenge closed primaries
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RANDALLSTOWN, Md. —
Maryland voters headed to the polls Thursday in the final hours of Early Voting for the state's primary election.
Democratic incumbent Gov. Wes Moore visited the Randallstown Community Center in Baltimore County to rally support for candidates he has endorsed.
"Our democracy matters and our democracy needs protecting, and when we're going out there and I think about the candidates who I want to support, I think about candidates like Julian Jones for county executive and Sarah David, our next state's attorney, and Karson Kamenetz, these are the candidates I know I want to have as my partners," Moore said.
The governor's visit comes as voters across the state make their way to the polls in hopes of seeing change on issues that matter most to them.
"I'm concerned about the stability in the economy. I'm concerned about the stability in the communities," said Desiree Mason, a Baltimore City voter.
"It's just the neighborhoods, the streets, the potholes, the vacant houses, the (Baltimore Gas and Electric) bills, just everything. The only way we can see that change is if we vote who we want in," said Daniel Carter, a Baltimore City voter.
"County executive is also a big one for me. I'm an educator. I'm in education, so someone that is looking to make a difference," said Stephanie Johnson Rolle, a Baltimore County voter.
Maryland holds closed primary elections in which registered voters can cast ballots for their party's primary. As such, the state's independent voters, also known as unaffiliated voters, said their voices will not be heard in this election.
"This is a voting rights issue and this matters because, in many parts of Maryland, the primary election is where the real decision is made," said Jeremy Gruber, senior vice president of Open Primaries.
Five independent voters have filed a lawsuit against the state and the governor, alleging that closed primaries violate the Constitution and calling for an open primary system.
"I should not have to register with a private political party to participate in a public election, and neither should the other 1 million Maryland voters who are unaffiliated," said Amber Ivey, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
The case is currently before the Maryland Appellate Court. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's office declined to comment. A gubernatorial representative told WBAL-TV 11 News that "the governor supports the state's current closed primary system and believes in encouraging voter participation to ensure all Marylanders' voices are heard."
Early Voting centers close at 8 p.m. Thursday. If you don't cast your ballot via early or mail-in voting, Primary Election Day is Tuesday.
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