LEONARDTOWN, Md. (July 30, 3008)—The Maryland Association of Election Officials (MAEO) says they are expecting a large voter turnout for the November 4, 2008 Presidential General Election. Election officials say they have analyzed voter registration and turnout trends at every polling place across the state to identify where to most effectively utilize additional equipment.
Some of the ideas MAEO is recommending to manage anticipated high voter turnout include:
-- Deploying additional voting units and electronic pollbooks;
-- Increasing the number of Election Judges;
-- Distributing specimen ballots statewide to help voters prepare to vote;
-- Providing extra chairs for the elderly or disabled; and
-- Promoting voting between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; research shows these hours to be the most efficient time to vote.
The St. Mary’s County Election Board says they will be implementing changes which include providing greeters who will hand out specimen ballots to voters so they can review the ballot while in line, and posting maps at the polling places so voters can make sure they are at the correct polling place.