Voters heading to polls for Democratic primary
It is primary Election Day in Annapolis where six Democratic candidates are looking to claim three seats on the Annapolis City Council.
Polls in Ward 3, Ward 4 and Ward 8 open at 7 a.m. for in-person voting. Voters have until 8 p.m. to cast their ballot or return their ballots to a dropbox. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day.
It is the first time in Annapolis’ near 400-year history the city will be administering an election mostly held by mail. Ahead of Tuesday, more than 450 people had returned ballots by mail or to one of the dropboxes in each of the eight voting precincts.
In the Ward 3 primary, Rhonda Pindell-Charles, a two-term incumbent, is up against Keanuú Smith-Brown, an elementary school teacher with nearly a decade of experience in Maryland politics.
The Ward 4 primary is a rematch from 2017 between fourterm incumbent Sheila Finlayson and Toni Strong Pratt, a community advocate and organizer.
Ward 8’s primary will see Ross Arnett, a four-term incumbent, take on Kati George, a financial services consultant and member
of the Annapolis Audit Committee. Whoever wins the primary will face Republican Rock Toews in the general election.
The winner of each primary will become their party’s candidate in the Nov. 2 general election. There are no Republican candidates in Ward 3 and Ward 4, so barring an upset from a third-party or write-in candidate, the winners in those wards will be seated on the City Council in December.
Ballots cast in-person Tuesday will be counted by election workers and posted on the city’s website. Ballots returned via dropbox or mail won’t be counted until 9 a.m. on Sept. 22.
Election officials said that count likely won’t take more than a day. A second canvass will take place on Sept. 29 for any residual mailed and provisional ballots.
As a result, it’s possible a winner won’t be determined until Wednesday or, if a race is especially close, at the second canvass.
To cast a ballot in person in Ward 3, 4 or 8, go to:
▪ Ward 3: Mt. Olive Community Life Center, 2. Hicks Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401
▪ Ward 4: American Legion Post #141, 1707 Forest Dr, Annapolis, MD 21401
▪ Ward 8: Eastport Volunteer Fire Hall, 914 Bay Ridge Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403
Each location also has a dropbox for anyone returning mailed ballots. The other five dropbox locations are also accepting ballots up until 8 p.m. today. They are located at:
▪ City Council Chambers, 160 Duke of Gloucester St, Annapolis, MD 21401
▪ Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library, 1410 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401
▪ Roger “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center, 273 Hilltop Ln, Annapolis, MD 21403
▪ Eastport Community Center, 1014 President St, Annapolis, MD 21403
▪ Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library, 269 Hillsmere Dr, Annapolis, MD 21403