Gardner Discusses Ballot Questions and Voting System Security
Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner today encouraged citizens to vote “yes” on ballot questions to amend the Frederick County Charter. During her public information briefing today, she explained that the amendments, which were supported unanimously by the County Council, create a more efficient and responsive environment than the previous commissioner form of government allowed.
Question A requires the council to provide at least four days’ notice when legislation has been revised and a second public hearing is needed. Question B has two parts. The first extends the deadline by which the council has to vote on the county budget from May 25 to May 31. The second part stipulates that if the council makes a change to the proposed budget after the initial hearing, a second public hearing will be required with at least two days’ notice.
“I urge everyone to vote yes in support of ballot questions A and B, to make Charter Government even more responsive and efficient for the citizens of Frederick County,” Executive Gardner said. “I encourage everyone to vote in the upcoming election and make your voice heard.”
Executive Gardner also spoke about the security of Maryland’s voting system. Frederick County and all of Maryland use stand-alone computer servers that are not connected to the Internet in any way. Maryland’s voting system has been certified as secure. If a recount is needed for any reason, paper ballots are available for verification.
Registered voters can cast ballots during early voting from Oct. 27 through Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, including Saturday and Sunday, at one of Frederick County’s four early voting centers: the Middletown Volunteer Fire Department Activities Building, the Frederick Senior Center, the Thurmont Regional Library and the Urbana Regional Library. For more information, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/elections. Information on the proposed Charter amendments can be found at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CharterAmendments.
