Maryland and Delaware gearing up for primary elections

“We’ll have a very vibrant turnout on election day tomorrow”, Anthony Gutierrez Election Director of the Wicomico Board of Elections

That’s what election officials are saying is the reason why such a high turnout is expected. Anthony Gutierrez says a mix of key races in Maryland have almost created perfect storm.

“There are a number of contests that we do anticipate having higher turn out in Wicomico county as long as the rest of eastern shore,” says Gutierrez, “In addition to is the presidential election is the U.S. Senate Seat which is open now and doesn’t come open very often”.

The Senate seat up for reelection is that of democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski – who has held the position since being elected in 1986.

Currently, pundits have speculated the seat will taken by one of two democratic front runners Congressman Chris Van Hollen or Congresswoman Donna Edwards.

Gutierrez says the race for Congress should also bring voters in currently the incumbent is Representative Andy Harris who’s running for re-election and has held the seat since 2011.

“Since we have a local person that’s running in the first congressional district on the democratic side of course, we have interest in the republican side
of that contest also, so that’s certainly going to generate higher turnout than expected,” says Gutierrez.

That local person former Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton.
As for Delaware officials say this year numbers will likely be larger than the 2012 presidential primaries.

“In 2012, you had an incumbent president primary so you had a single ballot primary in this case you have both parties having a primary at the same time so that alone should double your turnout”.

Officials say with the higher numbers expected they are asking for voters to have patience. They recommend showing up to vote during the middle of the day to avoid lines.

Gutierrez says voters there are two ways in which someone can vote by submitting absentee ballots.

Election officials says in order for someone to cast an absentee ballot they would need to come to their local board of election office.

These ballots may be delivered to local board of elections by 8 p.m. on election day or mailed and postmarked on election day. However, if you are going to get an absentee ballot for someone else you’ll have to act as an agent.

“That means they’ll have to come get some paperwork take it to the person bring that get the actual ballot take it to the actual person and bring all that material back in.”

For those voters registered as an independent vote. Gutierrez says you won’t be able to cast your ballot in Wicomico County.