MoCo Vote 2016 Blog (VIDEO)

The Presidential Primary Election is over in Maryland and the winners are gearing up for the General Election in November.

Take a look:

You can find complete election results, here.

Van Hollen Victory

Crowd celebrates victory by @VanHollenForMD in Democratic senate primary. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/ugLSHtybF8

— Willie James Inman (@imwilljames) April 27, 2016

Election Results

Unofficial election results are being posted on the State of Maryland’s election website. You can view them, here. You can view Montgomery County results, here.

The early results were good news for the Chris Van Hollen camp:

Crowd erupts in applause after early vote total is released. Van Hollen 55.7% Edwards 38.4% More results to come. pic.twitter.com/KIxlDB5oDb

— Willie James Inman (@imwilljames) April 27, 2016

In the Board of Education At Large race: Jeannette Dixon has a slight lead over Phil Kauffman but it’s early. See results, here.

Primary Election Day Story

Gaithersburg resident Elly Shaw-Belblidia spent Primary Election Day at Rachel Carson Elementary School campaigning for Chris Van Hollen. She said voter turnout was up for Democrats at this polling location compared to previous elections.

As for Van Hollen, she said she would be devastated if he did not win tonight. She will be attending Van Hollen’s Election Watch Party in Bethesda this evening.

Take a look to our interview, below:

Election Results Delayed

Montgomery County’s Board of Elections has announced that election results from early voting will not be released until 9 p.m. because the hours at some of the polling places in Baltimore were extended. Originally, results were expected shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m.

 Voters Speak Out

Thousands of Montgomery County voters cast their ballots on Primary Election Day.  We talked to some of them about the candidates that mean the most to them.

Take a look:

Get Out the Vote #GOTV

Have you voted yet? The polls are open until 8 p.m. Below is a look at some scenes around Montgomery County on Primary Election Day:

It’s Election Day

Let’s get out the vote! #GOTV

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and you can find out where to cast your ballot by visiting the Maryland Board of Elections website, here.

Remember, you will be handed a paper ballot at the polls.

Watch this video, below, for a preview of how to cast your ballot today:

If you are still undecided, you can hear from many of the candidates, in their own words, by watching their video statements that are posted on the MyMCMedia website and YouTube channel.

The playlist for the Board of Education race is below:

The playlist for U.S. Senate, is below:

The playlist for U.S. Congress District 8 is below:

The playlist for U.S. Congress District 6 is below:

The playlist for U.S. Congress District 3 is below:

O’Malley on Life after Presidential Bid

Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said he will be teaching at the University of Maryland in the fall. Find out more in this video interview, below:

Connie Morella Wants Open Primaries

Former U.S. Rep. Connie Morella, a Republican, said we need open primaries.

Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video, below:

Election Eve Rally for Van Hollen

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen hosted an Election Eve rally at his campaign headquarters in Kensington on Monday night. Van Hollen, a Democrat, is running for U.S. Senate against a slew of Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards. Other Democrats in this heated race include Freddie Donald Dickson, Jr., Ralph Jaffee, Theresa Scaldaferri, Charles Smith, Violet Staley, Blaine Taylor, Ed Tinus, and Lih Young.

Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and County Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Tom Hucker and George Leventhal were among the Van Hollen supporters at the rally.

Watch Van Hollen deliver comments to supporters, below:

.@VanHollenForMD says it’s going to be a close election and that every vote counts. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/oWcpBm46cU

— Maureen Chowdhury (@MediaMaureen) April 26, 2016

John Kasich Campaigns in Rockville

Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican candidate for president, is holding a Town Hall meeting in Rockville today.

His visit comes just one day before the Presidential Primary Election, and follows recent visits to Maryland by Republican candidates Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

You can watch the Town Hall meeting live on C-Span.

.@JohnKasich talks about his days as an intern at the National Library of Medicine in #MoCo @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/xlEj7IVXdG

— Willie James Inman (@imwilljames) April 25, 2016

Maryland is a Closed Primary State

The Board of Education race is one race that all registered voters, despite their party affiliation, will decide in Montgomery County, tomorrow:

Turnout Predictions

Local elections officials say it is hard to predict turnout before Election Day.

Still, here’s what local officials are saying about tomorrow’s projections:

Voting Machines

Some voters were surprised to be handed a paper ballot during early voting.

Here’s what you need to know about the voting machines on Primary Election Day:

Election Results

In case you are wondering, the first batch of Primary Election Day results are expected to be released shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m. on April 26.

Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video, below:

Election Day Tips

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Did you know midday is a good bet for reducing your wait time in line?

Below are some more Primary Election Day tips, in this MyMCMedia Extra video:

Kathleen Matthews Votes Early

Kathleen Matthews, who is running for Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s seat, cast her ballot early in Chevy Chase. She was joined by her husband and her children at the polls. Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video, below:

Last day to take advantage of early voting! Headed to the Jane Lawton Center in Chevy Chase to vote at 11am with my family!

— Kathleen Matthews (@ElectKathleen) April 21, 2016

What a sunny day to be chatting with voters on their commute to work! I’ll be at Wheaton Metro 8-9am.

— Kathleen Matthews (@ElectKathleen) April 21, 2016

Senator Ted Cruz is in Frederick County Today

Senator Ted Cruz has scheduled a rally in Frederick County today.

You can find out more, here.

We have reporters and photographers at the @tedcruz rally #cruzinfrederick. Follow along at: https://t.co/sX8JCgdQjM pic.twitter.com/NZ5ZsNpDg9

— Frederick News-Post (@frednewspost) April 21, 2016

Chelsea Clinton is in Montgomery County Today

Chelsea Clinton is campaigning for her mom in Maryland today. She is expected to appear at Denizens in Silver Spring later this morning.

You can find out more about her schedule, here.

Off to Maryland with @HFA today! It’s been an exciting week & I’m looking forward to sharing why #ImWithHer

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) April 21, 2016

Last Day to Vote Early

You are going to see a lot of candidates and their supporters campaigning today as April 21 is the last day to vote early in the state of Maryland.

Have you cast your ballot yet? There are ten early voting centers located across Montgomery County and the centers are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.

The Primary Presidential Election takes place on April 26.

Ted Cruz in Maryland

UPDATED Texas Senator Ted Cruz is expected to make his first campaign stops in Maryland today.

According to his website, the Cruz campaign has scheduled a meet and greet at the Tastee Diner in Bethesda this morning with Carly Fiorina.

At 1:30 p.m., Cruz is expected to attend a rally at 1:30 p.m. in Towson.

Expensive House Race

The Baltimore Sun describes the race for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District as the most expensive in the nation.

You can read the Sun’s article, here.

Remember, you can view the candidates’ video statements in this race, here.

Silver Spring Attracts Early Voters

More voters have cast their ballots at the Silver Spring Civic Building than at any other early voting center in Montgomery County to date.

The Board of Elections tweeted that Saturday’s turnout at the Silver Spring Civic Building was the highest in the state of Maryland.

Early voting continues until April 21 at ten locations across Montgomery County.

Early Voting: Day 1

The Silver Spring Civic Building was the busiest early voting center on April 14. That’s where 820 ballots were cast early.

Early voting continues at ten locations across Montgomery County until April 21. The early voting centers are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find out more about the Day 1 turnout in our early voting report, here.

Local Leaders Plan to Vote Early

Montgomery County Council members Roger Berliner, Sidney Katz and State’s Attorney John McCarthy plan to vote early in the Presidential Primary Election. Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video:

Former President to Campaign at Leisure World

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to campaign for his wife Hillary this afternoon in Leisure World in Silver Spring.

The event begins at 4:15 p.m. but doors open for invited guests at 3:15 p.m.

Early voting begins tomorrow in Maryland.

ICYMI: Fmr President Bill Clinton to speak @ Leisure World today @ 4 Expect some delays #MDtraffic pic.twitter.com/O3nzsIVKup

— Julie Wright (@thejuliewright) April 13, 2016

Absentee Ballot

Montgomery County voters who missed the deadlines to vote by mail or online for the Presidential Primary Election may still pick up an absentee ballot in person.

If you are unable to vote during Early Voting (April 14 – 21), or at your assigned polling place on Election Day (April 26), you may visit the Board of Elections (BOE) in Gaithersburg at any time, during normal business hours, up to or on Election Day. The office will be open on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Monday, April 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Election Day, April 26, from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. The elections office is located at 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210 in Gaithersburg.

Voters who cannot come in person to the office may designate another person as their agent to obtain the application. For information on designating an agent, contact the Absentee Office. Voters may choose to download an application from the BOE website, www.777vote.org, or the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website, http://elections.maryland.gov.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections is reminding voters that impersonating another voter or casting a ballot on behalf of another person is a crime. If you see or hear of any attempted vote fraud, contact the State Attorney’s Office at 410.576.6300 or 1.888.743.0023 toll free in Maryland.

Vote Early

State’s Attorney John McCarthy says he plans to vote early in the Presidential Primary Election. Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra, below:

Senate Race

The latest on the Senate race from The Washington Post.

Watch Donna Edwards‘ and Chris Van Hollen‘s video statements, taped earlier this year at Montgomery Community Media (MCM), below:

Voter Registration Deadline

The deadline to register to vote in the April 26 Presidential Primary Election is April 5th.

Visit www.777vote.org to confirm that your registration is up to date or to download a voter registration application. You may also call 240.777.VOTE to verify your voter registration using an automated phone system or visit the Elections Office, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Tuesday, April 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Another Endorsement for Raskin

The Coalition of Asian Pacific American Democrats of Maryland (CAPAD-MD) has endorsed Jamie Raskin’s campaign for Congress in Maryland’s 8th District.

“The members of CAPAD-MD are proud to endorse Jamie Raskin for Congress because we know Jamie to be a long-time friend to the Asian-American community in Maryland and trust he will be an effective leader and our best advocate in Congress,” said Matin Ma and Stan Tsai, co-chairs of CAPAD-MD. “After reviewing questionnaires and interviewing candidates, we are confident that Senator Raskin is the best choice for Congress due to his impressive track record of legislative success, his service to our community, and his steadfast devotion to helping the Asian-American community in Maryland thrive.”

“I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of CAPAD-MD and look forward to continuing my work with the Asian-American community to organize for success on April 26th and for sweeping positive change in Congress,” said Raskin in a news release posted on his website. “I’ve worked closely with CAPAD-MD leaders for over a decade and am honored to have the support of this vibrant group and its backing in this critical race.”

According to the Raskin campaign, CAPAD-MD group joins the Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County and the African-American Democratic Club of Montgomery County in supporting the State Senator’s campaign for Congress. He had previously earned the endorsement of the the Sierra Club, the 72-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Education Association, UFCW Local 400, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, the Machinists and Aerospace Workers and OPEIU Local 2. Find out more, here.

Early Voting, April 14 – 21

You can save time by voting early.

Montgomery County will open ten Early Voting Centers from April 14 to April 21, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. across Montgomery County.  Any registered voter may cast a ballot at any one of these sites on the same voting equipment used on Election Day.

According to the Board of Elections, many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra:

For information about the location of all Montgomery County Early Voting Centers, visit the BOE website. During Early Voting hours of operation, visit www.777vote.org, or the BOE’s new mobile app at m.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections, which has information about early voting, including wait times for each center.

For more information about early voting, call 240.777.VOTE.

Candidate Briefing Scheduled for April 14

The Montgomery County Board of Elections will hold a briefing for candidates and members of the media immediately before the beginning of Early Voting on April 14.

Board President Jim Shalleck is planning to meet with interested individuals at 9 a.m. on April 14 at the Silver Spring Civic Building.

Access to the voting room will be granted to those media representatives interested in obtaining footage.

One Montgomery Endorsement

One Montgomery, a grassroots organization of parents, teachers, and community members in Montgomery County, has endorsed Sebastian Johnson in the Montgomery County at-large race for Board of Education.

According to a One Montgomery news release, the endorsement was made based on candidate questionnaires, interviews, and public statements.

Find out more, here.

Financial Report

Board of Education (BOE) at-large candidate Sebastian Johnson reports that he has raised more than $17,000 this calendar year in his latest financial report. Read the story, here.

Find out more about Johnson in his candidate statement, below:

Watch the other BOE at-large candidates’ statements, here.

No Photos in Polling Place

Were you planning to take a photo of your ballot on Election Day? Think again. A Board of Elections spokesperson said no photos are allowed at the polling place. Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video:

Senate Race

Montgomery Community Media (MCM) provided each candidate in the Presidential Primary Election the opportunity to videotape a statement for the residents of Montgomery County. Watch Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen‘s candidate statements, below:

For more candidates videos in this Senate race, visit MCM’s You Tube page.

8th District Primary

The Washington Post has the latest on endorsements in the 8th Congressional District primary. You can watch the candidates’ statements here.

Candidates’ Statements

Montgomery Community Media (MCM) provided each candidate in the Presidential Primary Election the opportunity to create a short statement for the residents of Montgomery County. You can watch all those statements on our #MoCoVote2016 Election page. Each race is included on our You Tube site as well.

Voting Machines

In this election cycle, voters will cast their ballots on new machines:

Primary Primer

Here are five things you need to know about the Presidential Primary Election on April 26:

Sample Ballots Sent

The Montgomery County Board of Elections has mailed out the Official Voter Guide and Sample Ballot for the 2016 Presidential Primary Election. Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video:

Election Judges Needed

Montgomery County’s Board of Elections needs election judges, especially in the Bethesda, Boyds, Darnestown and Potomac areas. Find out more in this MyMCMedia Extra video:

MoCo Vote 2016 intro

The 2016 Presidential Primary Election is set for April 26, and early voting will take place from April 14 – 21 at ten locations across Montgomery County. The MoCo Vote 2016 Blog is your source for the latest election news in Montgomery County. You can help us follow the candidates and election news by emailing your captioned photos and videos to pix@mymcmedia.org or Tweet images @MyMCMedia, #MoCo #vote. We hope you will also follow us on Facebook. Stay informed and don’t forget to vote!