Voter Turnout

On Monday night, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the O'Malley administration's proposal to make it easier to cast a ballot in Maryland despite lingering criticism from some in the GOP that somehow early voting and same-day voter registration will lead to an outbreak of voter fraud. That is about as likely as Rep. Paul Ryan endorsing Amtrak, food stamps and an expansion of Obamacare in his next budget proposal. A far better criticism of the measure is that it doesn't go far enough, or perhaps that it imposes an expensive obligation on local government without providing for a funding source.

Motivated by the closeness of the race and the chasm in the views of the candidates, voters in Maryland and across the country packed polling places in apparent record numbers yesterday to choose between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry. Voters waited patiently in long lines not only in the half-dozen battleground states that would decide a contest polls put at a dead-heat, but also in states such as Maryland and North Carolina that were firmly in one camp or the other. In Florida and Ohio, a pair of states critical to the outcome, polls in some precincts stayed open hours after their scheduled closing times to accommodate voters already in line.

Voter turnout for the presidential primary Tuesday was Maryland's lowest in at least 32 years. About 21 percent of registered voters cast a ballot Tuesday, according to early tallies from the Maryland Board of Elections. That figure does not include absentee and provisional ballots, which may push up the final total, but officials said turnout won't reach 25 percent. That is the previous record low — set in 1996 — in the 32 years for which statewide records are available. "Voters know when there's a real election and when there's not a real election," said John Willis, a political science professor at the University of Baltimore and former Maryland secretary of state.

I believe our elected officials have possibly misunderstood the essential purpose of moving the Baltimore City mayoral primary and general election. The purpose is to increase voter turnout. Elected officials "having their cake and eating it too" by giving state officials a free shot at state office and vice versa discourages voter turnout. Initially, proponents of moving Baltimore elections onto the presidential cycle justified their position by claiming turnout in presidential primaries in the city far exceeded turnout in gubernatorial primaries.

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Running for president has always been described in terms of a race. But the race to be nominated for the presidency in 2008 has become a deeply flawed system as the states have engaged in a stampede to schedule the earliest primary. This favors candidates with deep pockets who will rely more on media campaigns instead of campaign stops in each primary state. Instead of a mad dash, the presidential primaries should be a well-paced, cross-country race to give voters, coast to coast, plenty of time to see how the candidates run in each state.

There are few things as fundamental to representative government as the ability to elect public officials. And there are few things in this country as widely ignored as exercising that right.Voter turnout is dismal. Not much more than half the voting-age population bothers in presidential elections. Fewer vote in local contests. Are inertia, disdain for politics and obstacles to registration at fault? Probably all three. To remedy at least one, Congress ordered the states to encourage voter registration by offering it at motor vehicle and social services offices, as well as by mail.

With the hours counting down before voters head to the polls, Maryland's statewide candidates turned to spiritual and secular leaders yesterday to engineer some last-minute buzz for their campaigns - and, they hope, tip the battle for voter turnout in their favor. Focusing primarily on the Washington suburbs, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley stood behind stars of their parties - former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former President Bill Clinton - and hoped their words, or mere presence, would lure voters to the polls tomorrow.

I read with interest Blaine Taylor's letter about the voter turnout in the primary in last week's edition of the Towson Times ("Dems take notice: GOP turnout shows support for that party's team," April 11) because I had a conversation with a gentleman who told me he hadn't voted since he was a Democrat — and the primary was only for Republicans. What we need to do is better educate the public so that more will vote and they won't just vote for familiar names. That way, maybe some new candidates like Blaine Taylor will be voted in, and maybe even some Republicans, so our state won't be so one-sided.

The National Weather Service is calling for ideal ballot-casting conditions in Maryland today, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-60s. That warm-up will come after a cold start to the day. A frost advisory is in effect for Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard and Harford counties, with a freeze warning issued for Carroll and Frederick counties. Voter turnout was expected to near record lows in today's Maryland primary election. At least there shouldn't be any rain to keep potential voters at home.

BUCKING a statewide trend of Democratic victories, Carroll County remained staunchly Republican in Tuesday's election. No Democrat gained office; none came close to winning.The county's conservative bedrock laid the foundation for Republicans, none of whom could be called the slightest bit liberal.The difference was not campaign money or voter turnout, two common excuses of losers. The county's majority Republican Party turned out in good numbers, but so did Democrats. Overall, the county voter turnout was 61 percent, down from 67 percent in 1994.