On Tuesday, May 14, in the Maryland primary election, seniors who are 18 and registered to vote will get a voice in their country’s future.
Primary elections decide which candidates will run in the general elections. The two most well-known political parties are the Democrats and Republicans. Primaries are limited to a voter’s party affiliation in Maryland. Although parties may hold open primaries in some states where voters of different partisan affiliations can vote for one party’s election, Maryland primaries are closed, and only party members can vote for candidates within their party affiliation to move on to the general election. Voters can choose their party affiliation when registering to vote, the deadline for which was Apr. 23. “Voters should prepare so they can make an impact on the government,” junior Artin Noori said.
Offices impacted by this year’s primary election range from the U.S president and U.S Senate, to the more local offices of the Montgomery County Board of Elections at large and Montgomery County Board of Education elections for districts two and four, who will be impactful in the budget allocation, regulations and policy of Montgomery County public schools. “Getting education and voting for the candidates in local government is where our voice can be most heard,” senior Jeffery Liu said.
The primary election, which led to school closure on May 14, poses complications for students and school staff. The rescheduling of AP exams, including English Language and Composition, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: Electrodynamics, and African American Studies, is a direct result of these elections. “It’s somewhat useful because we get a lot more time to prepare for the exam, but it kind of sucks having an exam two days before my last day,” Abdur-Rahman Shakir, a senior taking both Physics C exams, said.
Online resources such as vote411.org allow voters to plan their primary election day. They provide statements from each candidate about their objectives and visions, match citizens to their nearest voting locations, and list the offices up for election. “Planning ahead of time amidst the course of an election is key because it lets the voter fully make up their mind, rather than the pressures inflicted upon last-minute decisions,” junior Nakibinge said.
