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Election officials say early voting is up compared to previous years in the city. Officials believe ranked choice voting being on the ballot is the reason why.
GREENBELT, Md. — Early voting has wrapped up in Greenbelt Maryland and officials say turnout is already outpacing the city’s last election two years ago.
While voters are choosing new members for the City Council, this year’s ballot also includes several measures that could reshape how Greenbelt conducts elections moving forward.
Among the most closely watched questions: whether to adopt ranked-choice voting, a system that allows residents to rank candidates in order of preference. Supporters say the change could encourage more participation and reduce the impact of vote-splitting among similar candidates.
“I’m really interested to see how that turns out because it’s getting a lot of people—who weren’t paying attention before—truly involved,” said Alison Gary, an elections committee official for the City of Greenbelt.
Residents are also weighing whether to extend council terms from two years to four. If that measure passes, voters would also decide whether councilmembers could be recalled during their terms.
“When you vote, your voice is heard, and this year’s questions really determine how elections go in the future,” Gary said.
Those at the polls said local elections like this one often carry the most impact on day-to-day life.
“Vote for the issues that you care about and the community that you want to create,” said Vlad Tchompalov, a Greenbelt voter. “This is just a great time to come out.”
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Mail-in ballots must be received by 6 p.m. for votes to be counted.
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