Dear Mayor and Council:
We are just back from voting in today’s election. The poll workers asked for a driver’s license when we checked in. I was astonished and dismayed by this request. I stated to the poll worker that Maryland has no ID requirement for voting. The worker replied, “That’s our policy since we don’t know you.”
The apparent supervisor then stepped in to say again, “We’re not from here, so we need to see your license.” When I objected, she stated, “Well, if you don’t want to show your license, you can just tell us your address.”
This is outrageous!
Who authorized hiring this firm? Did anyone check their procedures? Did anyone consider reviewing their familiarity with Maryland law?
If we needed poll workers, was there a call for local citizens to apply? I may have missed the call, for I certainly would have responded and tried to get my local resident friends to respond too.
At a time in our country when voting rights are under attack, these Town of Chestertown election procedures are not just illegal—they are a disgrace and reflect so very poorly on our community.
Barbara Jorgenson
Chestertown
Brandt Troup says
Dear Editor
I had a feeling this would not go unnoticed. My feelings on voter ID notwithstanding, as a former election ‘judge’, I found their request odd from a procedural standpoint. I chalked it up to “It will save some time if I had it, instead of dictating the info,” but that the firm overseeing the election was who volunteered the question, it made me wonder what others might experience and ultimately do about it.
I presume this expense came from the town budget? If so, then I suppose our new council has its first issue. And here’s hoping this doesn’t become a blossoming expense…if one were to acquire my drift.
Maria Wood says
I too was asked for my ID and refused, as it is not a requirement in Maryland. At a time when voter laws are such a lightning rod for controversy and distress, proper procedures should be followed exactly. In a town of 5,000 people, a quick look at yesterday’s election results indicates that fewer than 400 voted. Confusion and misunderstanding caused by the irregularities like this only depresses participation, particularly from those whose voices need the most amplification.
Bill Barron says
Here are the rules regarding voter ID as copied from the MD Attorney General website:
“Usually, you will not be asked to show ID if your name is on the list of registered voters. However, you will be asked to show ID if:
You registered by mail and have not previously met the identification requirements.
Someone in the polling place challenges your identity.
You are registering to vote during early voting or changing your address during early voting.
If you do not have your ID with you, you may vote a provisional ballot for the presidential general election and bring your ID to your local election board before 10 a.m. on November 12, 2020, so that your identity and eligibility can be verified in time to count your vote. Either way, the acceptable forms of identification are:
A Maryland Driver’s License or other Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) issued identification
A student ID card that contains a photo
An employee ID card that contains a photo
A passport or other government issued ID
OR, if you do not have those forms of ID: a utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows your name and address and is less than 3 months old. If you are showing ID because you are voting for the first time, your name and address on the document must match the information on the voter registration roll.”
So….unless you registered by mail and haven’t earlier provided an ID, it would appear that you were legally challenged by “someone in the polling place” who did not recognize you. In any event, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot.
Robin Wood says
Until now, in every town, state and federal election here, I have been asked only to state my name and confirm my address. I have NEVER been asked to show ID, even when not known by the person in front of me. A challenge to one’s identity means a challenge to one’s claimed identity–NOT a routine demand to see ID, which disenfranchises everyone who lacks it or simply leaves home without it.
Nancy Henderson says
Law or otherwise, I would rather someone check that I have the right to vote in the district by checking my name and/or address. What is offensive about that? The pollworkers were polite and helpful. I have done this job in other places and it was fine to me.
Julie Athey says
Keeping it honest. There are many places that you need to show ID and thart’s a GOOD thing.
M.Q. Fallaw says
I had the same reaction at the check-in table. When I overheard the voter on my left being asked for her ID and noticed her starting to comply, I said to the worker in front of me (intentionally loud enough to be heard on my left as well) that Maryland does not require displaying one’s ID at the polls. I myself had thus far stated only my name and spelled it. Wisely, my worker did not pursue the matter of ID with me but proceeded to look up my name in the register of voters, the usual procedure. Since I voted in the late morning (11:15-30), I wonder how many times this had come up so far, as well it should have, and, if so, why these workers were so tenacious about asking for ID.
When we moved to C’town in 1970 and registered to vote in early 1971, it had to be done in two places: with the county elections board office and with the town office as the town managed/conducted its own elections. (The town had very limited days and hours for registration, and elections were held in early Dec. in the odd-numbered years.)
At some point (1990s?) the town turned over registration and elections management to the county board and its offices. Are there fees involved? If so, how much? If the county contributes to the support of the county elections board’s operations (whose employees seem to be state employees), are town residents who pay property taxes to both town and county once again being socked twice? Why was not the competent county elections office staff not used for yesterday’s elections? Some details would be appreciated.
The town eventually switched from early-Dec. elections to the U.S.’s common election day of the first Tues. in Nov. Now, in my opinion, the town ought to switch its elections to the even-numbered years (when other-level contests are decided) to help increase voter participation and to perhaps reduce any cost to the town. The turnout for town elections is always quite pathetic.
John Massey says
I’ve voted many times, Asked my name they look it up. Asked my address. Asked my birth date. Information verified, they know who I am and I never had to remove my “papers” from my pocket.
Marty Hankins says
I’m sorry you had this experience. I have served as an election judge in Carroll County, Maryland (I am a Kent County native, but live in Carroll County). You are correct; you do not have to provide id. You state your name and the judge looks you up in the poll book. You are then asked to verify your address. Contact your local board of elections to see if you can sign up to be poll worker; there should be plenty of spots available from greeters to election judges. Maybe municipal elections are different from county elections, but what happened in your case is questionable to say the least.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Barbara, I always offer my photo ID when voting. Feels good.
Voting rights are not “under attack” in these United States. No qualified citizen is being denied access to the polls. Thank you-Steve
Grenville B. Whitman says
The federal government, the states, and local governments should make it easier for a “qualified citizen” to vote, not harder. Cutting back on early voting, making it harder to vote by mail, long lines because of fewer polling places, overly strict ID requirements, making it harder to register, all such restrictions and conditions make it more difficult for qualified citizens to vote.