With the Mid-Term elections in the United States just days away, registered voters in Washington D.C and other parts of the country have been casting their ballots.
Even as the District of Columbia does not have a formal representative in Congress, Brett Roth is utilising the early voting window by coming to the Columbia Heights Community Hall, and he says what happens locally has an impact on national politics with the impending results from the Congressional election.
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“In D.C with the early voting in person, its super easy with everyone’s chaotic schedules to find a good time to show up at the ballots. Obviously it took me just about two minutes from the moment i get through the door”.
Roth is one of over 60,000 registered voters in the D.C area to cast ballots for four candidates for the position of Mayor of D.C, and other offices, and he gave his impression about the process.
Nick Jacobs is the Public Information Officer of the DC Board of Elections and he says all has been put in place for a seamless voting process.
He told AIT.live that “the turnout’s been very strong. There’s been al lot of enthusiasm to get out and vote”
In neighbouring Montgomery County in the State of Maryland, the Governorship is up for election, as Larry Hogan, a Republican, is not eligible having served two maximum terms.
Adele Schidmt is a registered voter in the state, and says though a traditional democratic stronghold, Maryland will be better for it should the voters properly x-ray those on the ballot to succeed Hogan.
Brigitta Mullican is a core Republican and says a halt to illegal migration is a determining factor in who gets her vote.
“I am very against people coming coming into this country through the border, and just we now, Montgmery County have taken in a lot of illegal aliens”
Another voter in the same county, Lawrence Harmon told AIT.live that the debate over legalising the use of Marijuana by the Maryland State Assembly is a matter which has been a talking point with his neighbours.
Some such as Jim Gilchrist have been making laws for the state of Maryland. But he is seeking reelection.
He says the Democratic party’s array of candidates aarev local state and Congress elections have focal areas.
“There is healthy debate in each election, and that is going on in Maryland and across the country right now. But we are focusing on education, healthcare and environment”.
A Republican candidate for Rockville and Gaithersburg communities in the same Assembly, Helene Meister beats her chest to upstage the incumbent due to what she called poor economic policies.
“The cost of living in Maryland is really high. Another issue is fighting inflation because its very hard right now for families to make it, to pay their food bills, utility bills. I want to do something to help families to make things easier for them”
An official of the the Montgomery County Board of Elections, Gilberto Zelaya had led AIT on a guided tour of the voting process at the centre emphasising how technology had simplified the voting process.
“With early voting, what you need is, any registered voter can vote in any of the 14 voting centres. Unlike Election day, you should go to your particular polling place, and your polling places are designated by your residential address”
In Montgomery, early voting closed on Thursday. In D.C, as Jacobs said, it continues till Tuesday, which is election day
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)