Council President Calls For Statewide Election Contingency Plan

Council President Calls For Statewide Election Contingency Plan

"Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy"

BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, August 14, 2020) — Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott is calling on Governor Hogan to outline a contingency plan for the General Election on November 3, 2020 after disturbing comments made yesterday by President Trump:

“Yesterday, President Trump appeared on national television, where he discussed withholding funding to the U.S. Postal Service so that the system would not be equipped to handle mail-in, absentee voting come November. 

“These politically-motivated comments are chilling and raise concerns about our ability to hold a free and fair election. We must take action now. We cannot wait for Maryland voters to be disenfranchised to say we should have done more. 

“I am calling on Governor Hogan to prepare a contingency plan that allows voters to receive their ballots by mail, as they did for the Primary. Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and we must ensure that all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, zip code, or identity, are able to exercise their right to vote. 

“As a citywide elected leader, I have consistently advocated for preparedness and integrity in the administration of our elections during this devastating global pandemic. With yesterday’s comments, I am even more concerned about the State’s current plan, which puts a greater reliance on the mail system and will cost Maryland taxpayers more in the form of multiple mailings. Under the State’s current proposal, voters will be required to complete an application by mail before they can receive an absentee ballot to vote by mail.

“Despite the unprecedented challenges caused by this pandemic, Baltimore City led the state with record turnout during the Primary, in which all eligible voters were mailed a ballot. If our goal is to ensure high levels of voter participation in the General, what accounts for this change? 

“It is irresponsible and anti-democratic to insist that Marylanders complete multiple mailings to vote in the General Election when COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly across our state, and when the President of the United States actively undermines our public mail system.”