Leaders, Residents Push for White Oak Early Voting Site: ‘People Around Here Have Suffered’

County leaders at the White Oak Community Recreation Center advocated for an early voting site in the community. (July 26, 2021).

White Oak residents want an early voting site in their community.

Montgomery County leaders advocated for an early voting site in the area during an event with residents Monday evening. Council President Tom Hucker said the location makes common sense. White Oak is home to many lower-income, African American, immigrant, and senior voters, many of whom do not have access to a car, he explained. Hucker said taking public transit to the nearest early voting centers in Silver Spring or Burtonsville takes over 40 minutes.

“If you don’t have a car, you’re going to have to take the bus to go all the way to Downtown Silver Spring to do voting, which is where we’ve had the early voting for the longest of times,” said Fatmata Barrie, who lives in White Oak and is running for county council. “And people around here have suffered.”

Residents will be able to testify about early voting sites during a public hearing with the County Board of Elections Sept. 18.

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About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

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