Early Voting Ends in Perry Hall, Light Turnout
Honeygo Run Regional Park was one of five Baltimore County locations to hold early voting in Maryland's primary elections.
Early voters were few, but passionate, according to conservative political campaigner Anita Schatz.
"People are starting to wake up and realize how important this election is," Schantz said. Standing in the Honeygo Run Regional Park parking lot in Perry Hall, she handed out pamphlets for District 2 congressional candidate, State Sen. Nancy Jacobs.
The park's recreation center was one of only five early voting centers in Baltimore County. Early voting in Maryland's primary elections ran between March 24 and March 29. Dozens more polling stations are expected to open on April 3, Primary Election Day.
State election officials described early voter turnout as light.
Out of more than 413,000 eligible voters in Baltimore County, less than 3 percent—just under 12,000—participated in early voting, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. A total of 2,350 voters visited the Honeygo center by closing time on Thursday.
Bernard Bocherek of Perry Hall was one of them. A registered Democrat, Bocherek said most of the races on his ballot were uncontested, aside from the race for U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin's seat.
"I voted to keep him in office. He's doing a good job," Bocherek said.
Bocherek added that he appreciated getting to vote early.
"I think it's more convenient," he said. "I don't see why more people don't do it."
Are you in favor of early voting? Tell us why or why not in the comments.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article misspelled Anita Schatz's name. Patch regrets the error.
Eric Martin
9:49 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Anita's last name is Schatz, not Schantz. But more importantly, is early voting really cost effective when only 3% of voters utilize it? Does it really encourage more voter participation? IMHO I think the answer is that it is a waste of tax dollars.
Tim
1:19 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
I completely agree. It's a waste of tax dollars. Especially when the results are honestly irrelevant.
Romney is the candidate. Period.
Emily Kimball
11:15 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thank you, I've corrected it and added an editor's note.
Thomas Vandenoever
1:21 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
I agree w/ Eric Martin. Instead of the expense of early voting craete a tax credit( a reciept that varies in amount by the time of day your vote is cast.) This would encourage more citizens to vote. For those who would normally vote early or late in in the day when the turn out is the highest to recieve less than for those who can come at "OFF" times.More carrot for those to do the right thing. Tom Vandenoever
Josephine Hlatki
5:56 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Too bad the photo of Anita didn't show her apron with all the Nancy Jacobs stickers on it. After all, Andy Harris is running unapposed this time and the focus is on Nancy Jacobs, the Republican hopeful for Congress in District 2. Go here to see all the great endorsements...the only candidate to get these. She also was endorsed by MD Right to Life. http://nancyjacobsforcongress.com/
Josephine Hlatki
6:07 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
I just loaded a better photo of Anita to the group that I got permission from her to use here on her Facebook page.
Josephine Hlatki
6:20 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Learn what you need to know about Nancy Jacobs position on issues here http://nancyjacobsforcongress.com/positions . Be sure to click all the links on the right side of the page, too. Very impressive.
I believe Nancy is the one to beat Mr. Spend and Tax, Dutch Ruppersberger. Nancy has been fighting the taxes OWE Malley is throwing at us and we need her in the HOUSE IN DC to stop the spending and reduce our taxes.
John Doe
1:54 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Yes - rush to vote early for people who do nothing. You want to know one reason for the light turnout? Disgust. Why would people rearrange their schedule to rush early to vote? Let me hear it everybody.
Paul Amirault
2:33 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Nancy will lose, that is a good thing.
Paul Amirault
2:46 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Nancy's positions, my opinion:
- Anti-choice, ban abortions - yes
- decrease tax rates for wealthy and corporations - yes
- decrease aid to poor - yes
- anti gay marriage - yes
- cut Medicare - yes
- cut Social Security for most people - yes
- bomb Iran soon - yes
- cut Medicaid - yes
- teach Creationism in public schools - yes
- allow prayer ("Christian only") in public schools - yes
- believe Obama is Muslim - won't say, probably yes
- hates Obama - yes
Last one reason enough to vote for her? - Sadly, yes. Just what we want?
Tim
2:54 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Wow, she's a real winner.
Cut everything - including taxes on business that are already low thanks to a myriad of loopholes, subsidies, and credits.
- Repress minority groups based solely on religious beliefs - you know, like those people in the Middle East do!
- and the pre-requisite all Republicans need: Hate Obama.
quite the hat trick. It's amazing people are so gullible into buying in to all of this stuff that both directly and indirectly harms them. As Abraham Lincoln famously said once: You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time...
Josephine Hlatki
7:37 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
Paul is the best advertisement FOR Nancy I've seen.