Stay Safe and Vote!!! Election Issue 2020

2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT

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WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

Equipoise: Voting for a Return to ‘Normalcy’

By Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman WI Special Editions Editor

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When Presidential-nominee Warren Harding addressed the nation in 1920 concerning those issues he believed threatened to destroy the country from within, it was a clarion call encouraging Americans to return to customs.

“America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjust5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) ment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise...” he said. Those concerns – a century ago -- included prohibition, interwar year economic malaise, the ongoing Spanish flu epidemic, and white mob violence in the form of race riots across the country that brought death and destruction to once-peaceful communities.

As Americans head for the polls this election season, 100 years later, many carry similar sentiments and concerns in tow and crave more than anything, a return to something that resembles “normal.” In addition to political divisiveness and a surge in social unrest, the U.S. faces financial uncertainty, an unrelenting health pandemic, and the resulting loss of social mobility.

Harding’s equipoise may be needed, but will voting turn the tide toward healing?

In recent years Americans have overwhelmingly disconnected from the voting process with a mere 126 million votes counted in the 2016 presidential election – representing about 55 percent of voting age citizens. This meant that even as poll watchers celebrated the uptick from 53.5 percent in 1996, only about half of the nation’s eligible voters bothered to participate in the election process.

The concept of “normal” only exists for a nation inside the parameters of each citizen taking seriously their civic duties, particularly, voting and jury service. Ironically, these are the two obligations taken most for granted and unceremoniously set aside regularly in recent history.

Never forget that there was a time when Black people in America were not allowed to serve on juries. African Americans were also not allowed to bring charges against a white person for a crime or testify against a white person in court. Today, a single Black person seated on a jury could be the difference between an indictment or a release – a custodial sentence or a fine – life or death. Do your civic duty and answer the jury summons when it arrives. This is your moral and civil obligation.

Exercise your right as a U.S. citizen.

Also, consider that not only are federal and state politicians voted into office, but so too are judges, sheriffs, prosecutors, school boards, and public housing boards. Imagine how many of the disparities in policing, mass incarceration, school funding, and housing equity could be addressed if voters pulled the ballot lever for candidates committed to change.

Don’t like the candidates? Well, welcome to America. Run yourself! Encourage someone who has the grit to get in and do the job to run for office and then support them all the way to victory. This is a democracy and one of the few places on the planet where you can pencil in a name on a ballot. Hell, you can even pencil in your own name!

No more whining, whingeing, or waffling. This is the District of Columbia – where, as you’ll read in James Wright’s story on Home Rule – residents elect a non-voting Delegate to the US House of Representatives who can draft legislation but cannot vote, have no voice in Senate Committees or on the Senate Floor. This means that D.C. residents have no say in the determination of who should serve as leadership for federal agencies, serve as U.S. Ambassadors to foreign countries, sit on federal court benches, or serve in the U.S. Supreme Court. This is true even for the federal courts within DC’s boundaries.

Again, there is no excuse not to vote (or serve on jury duty).

The Washington Informer Election Guide, “Stay Safe & Vote” offers readers an historical framework from which to approach both the voting process and a template for taking hold of our most cherished and patriotic treasures – the right to vote.

Read, Learn, Grow.

www.washingtoninformer.com /THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT

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Ensuring the College Vote Counts

By Jordan Colquitt WI Contributing Writer Young people will play a major role in the outcome of the November 3rd Presidential Election.

Historically, this has not been the case as college students who account for a large portion of this number have voted at significantly lower rates. While some students did not feel that politics impacted them, others lacked access to voter information, and some were deterred by other factors.

However, there was a major shift and increase in election participation seen in the 2018 midterm election.

According to political data analysis firm TargetSmart, there was a 188 percent increase in early voting in the 2018 election from 2014. The upswing in the 2018 midterm election was the result of various factors. Many universities across the country upped their efforts to register students and otherwise increase political involvement. Additional classes and requirements were created with the goal of raising political efficacy and understanding of elections within the college-aged voting bloc.

Relying predominantly on peer-to-peer outreach, North-

western University registered 95 percent of eligible students in 2018. This shift served as a threat to officials in the Republican party, as data from the Pew Research Center shows that 58 percent of young adults age 18 to 25 either identified as or leaned Democratic. Tools of voter suppression were mighty in the 2018 midterm election, with states like Nevada making residency changes that impacted students in the eleventh hour.

The new wave of increased civic participation among college students will not ease up in this election. And frankly, neither will

attempts to suppress this resilient group of voters. Tufts University Institute for Democracy and Higher Education Director, Nancy L. Thomas said that when the Coronavirus outbreak started she “realized immediately that election laws and rules were going to be a mess and there would be lots of efforts to disenfranchise certain groups, including college students.”

Despite whatever attempts may arise to suppress the student vote, school officials and students are determined to ensure that students are equipped with the tools to not only register but also vote in the upcoming election. Vanessa Velas, an 18-year-old freshman who is studying Political Science at Rochester University, realizes the important role that her age group will play in the election.

“It’s important for me to vote

because I believe that anyone who has the right to vote should use it,” Velas, of Hyattsville, said.

“For those in my age group, it is so much more important because we should be speaking out and voting for the change that we want to see in the future.”

Athletic officials at Georgia Institute of Technology in 9 of the institution’s Division I NCAA athletic programs have agreed to not hold mandatory athletic activities on election day to encourage students and staff to vote.

In like manner, the school’s Student Government Association and Faculty Executive Board passed a motion that “strongly urges” professors to not hold exams or synchronous lectures on election day.

Tech officials have also announced that the McAmish Pavilion will be used as a polling location for the presidential election.

Kyle Smith, Executive Vice President of Georgia Tech’s Undergraduate Student Government said that “many of our policies have been set in place before we even had the ability to vote. So now, exercising our right to vote is important to say that this is where the people of our generation stand.”

Smith, a third-year Public Policy student, mentioned police reform, immigration reform, and climate change as some of his many priorities in the election.

No matter what tactics of voter suppression may stand in their way, one thing is clear; their voices will be heard at the ballot box.

For information on how to register to vote, election deadlines, polling places, and more please visit rockthevote.org/how-tovote/.

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5 Questions to Ask Local Candidates The DC Council is made up of 13 members, including an elected representative from each of the eight Wards and five additional at-large members, including the Chairman. David Grosso (I-At Large), is not seeking reelection this year, creating a competitive race for one of the five at-large seats. Councilmembers in Wards 2, 4, 7, and 8 are also running for reelection.

Make sure the candidates have a position on the issues below that aligns with your values. During this election, local candidates need to address the issues that matter to you.

1. What are your budget and tax priorities and how will they improve the lives of District residents

50 and older?

2. Do you think the District has done enough to promote affordable housing and access to community services? If not, what more can be done?

3. What are your views on a mandated consumer advocate on utility commissions and boards that approve utility rates?

4. What are your views on the Elder Abuse Response Team bill moving through the DC Council to help protect seniors from all forms of abuse?

5. What will you do to ensure that District resident are protected against fraud and deceptive or

unfair business practices, and provide opportunities for redress to victims of fraud?

Stay safe, stay healthy, and make your voice heard! #ProtectVoters50Plus

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Amplify Your Voice: Vote as a Bloc

By Dr. Sophia Sparks WI Contributing Writer According to the US Election Project, approximately 60 percent of the voting eligible population voted in the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections. Historically, the percentage of the voting eligible population declines each election cycle as many Americans feel that

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A projected 32 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in 2020, compared with 30 million blacks. The population of Asians eligible to vote will reach an estimated 11 million in 2020, which is more than double the 5 million who were eligible to vote in 2000, accounting for 5 percent of next year’s electorate.

their vote does not matter. Your vote matters. Voting does not determine which party inhabits an office. Your vote dictates which policies are pushed, whose voice the politicians hear, and whose voice the politicians ignore. Low voter turnout during elections leaves the level of political influence to corporate interests and voters who mobilize over issues rather than the popularity of the candidate.

Amplify your voice. Vote as a bloc.

The lion may be king of the jungle, but its true strength comes from the pack. The same is true in politics. There is strength in numbers.

Political nominees target large, organized groups such as unions.

Why? Less effort to obtain more votes. Canvassing the neighborhood takes time and may not result in the number of votes necessary to secure a political candidate’s victory. Attending an organizational meeting such as the local union or a homeowner’s association reaches the same number of people in less time and can result in a larger number of secured votes.

Take the city of Alexandria,

Virginia for example. The 2019 U.S. Census estimates the city’s population to be 159,428. Only 7,500 of these residents voted in the city’s last election according to the city’s election statistics. An estimated 3,795 active/retired police and fire fighters live within Alexandria, making the political engagement of this labor group rival other labor groups that do not form a union. The police and fire associations’ influence extends beyond the individuals within the association. It touches their network of friends, family, and other related associations which makes their endorsement even harder to turn down.

Union members are more likely to vote and more likely to belong to other associations than non-voters according to the 2013 study “Labor Unions and Political Participation in Comparative Perspective,” by Jasmine Kerrissey and Evan Schofer. Given this information and the multiplier provided by the study, we can assume a minimum 3,900 of the 7,500 Alexandria votes came from a union member or someone they influenced. The group’s voting record combined with the benefits of the

5 Unions, homeowners’ associations, and collective Ward or ANC voting often secure the best candidates to meet the needs of given groups. / Courtesy photo

associations’ ability to mobilize voters makes them an attractive political target and a formidable voting bloc. An endorsement by the police and fire association can secure a mayor, city council member, or state representative a seat in less time than it would take to knock on all 144,000 doors.

Influence the 2020 election with

these four actions. One, help register individuals who are eligible to vote within your community. Two, put the November election on the meeting agenda of your next homeowner’s association or social gathering. Three, mobilize voters through conversation and education; and Four, help people in your network get to the polls. ES

By the Numbers Taken together, this strong growth among minority populations means that a third of eligible voters will be nonwhite in 2020, up from about a quarter in 2000. This increase is at least partially linked to immigration and naturalization patterns: One-in-ten eligible voters in the 2020 election will have been born outside the U.S., the highest share since at least 1970.

Since the 1960s, turnout rates have hovered between 51 percent and 62 percent in U.S. presidential elections, and between 37 percent and 50 percent in midterm elections.

“I expect 2020 voter turnout to be exceptional, perhaps the highest in over a century, since 1908,” McDonald said.

“I sometimes refer to it as ‘the storm of the century.” -University of Florida political scientist Michael McDonald

Also, this election will see a mere 53 percent of potential first-time voters as non-Hispanic white people — down 11 percentage points from the rest of the voter-aged population, according to U.S. Census projection data. More Hispanic: Nearly a quarter of 18 to 21 year olds in 2020 are projected to be Hispanic, In November, for the first compared to 16 percent of time: Americans born after the rest of American adults, the 9/11 attacks will be voting for a president, Gen Z will according to census data.

Finally, first-time voters are surpass the Silent Generation’s share of the electorate; more likely to be pursuing and Hispanic Americans will college and have parents with college degrees. surpass Black Americans as the largest racial or ethnic minority voting group.

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Recent & Recommended Books for Election 2020

By Lee Ross WI Contributing Writer Among the great advantages of American citizenship are the rights and responsibilities associated with voting. Many outside the U.S. look in envy at the power and inclusion afforded under democratically elected leaders. Still, with highly polarized elections, key issues important in the process of electing officials take a backseat to sensationalized news stories, candidate popularity, and rumors. The Washington Informer encourages every American to vote as a function of their civic duty, their birthright, and their national obligation. To do so, you must be as informed about the issues facing your community, your state, and the nation – as well as those candidates who believe they are the best options for leading the charge and managing your concerns.

The Ultimate Guide to the 2020 Election: 101 Nonpartisan Solutions to All the Issues that Matter

by Ryan Clancy and Margaret White With the 2020 US presidential election looming, the emerging contest doesn’t seem so much a battle of ideas as it does a war of two tribes bent on the other’s destruction. The Far Left and Far Right increasingly dominate and drive America’s political debate, leaving a majority of Americans feeling left out and left behind. The Ultimate Guide to the 2020 Election gives a voice to this majority and provides an unbiased education on the true nature of the problems America faces on several key issues, including: Health Care, Energy & Climate Change, Infrastructure, Big Tech & Privacy, The American Dream, Immigration, The National Debt, and Gun Safety. Ryan Clancy and Margaret White present ideas for rescuing American democracy itself.

Election Meltdown - Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy

by Richard L. Hasen As the 2020 presidential campaign begins to take shape, there is widespread distrust of the fairness and accuracy of American elections. In this timely and accessible book, Richard L. Hasen uses riveting stories illustrating four factors increasing the mistrust. Voter suppression has escalated as a Republican tool aimed to depress turnout of likely Democratic voters, fueling suspicion. Pockets of incompetence in election administration, often in large cities controlled by Democrats, have created an opening to claims of unfairness. Old-fashioned and new-fangled dirty tricks, including foreign and domestic misinformation campaigns via social media, threaten electoral integrity. Inflammatory rhetoric about “stolen” elections super charges distrust among hardcore partisans.

Home Rule or House Rule: Congress and the Erosion of Local Governance in the District of Columbia

by Michael K. Fauntroy Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution of the United States grants Congress complete authority over the seat of government, the District of Columbia. This clause creates an infirmity that renders the residents of the District without the same measure of democracy enjoyed by Americans in the states. Various remedies have been attempted, none of which put the residents of the District on par with their fellow Americans. This book presents a political analysis of the relationship between Congress and the local government of Washington, D.C. It examines the influence of suburban members of Congress on District affairs, the fiscal crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, governmental inefficiency, and the Control Board.

Democracy’s Capital: Black Political Power in Washington, D.C., 1960s–1970s

by Lauren Pearlman From its 1790 founding until 1974, Washington, D.C.--capital of “the land of the free--lacked democratically elected city leadership. Fed up with governance dictated by white stakeholders, federal officials, and unelected representatives, local D.C. activists cata-

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lyzed a new phase of the fight for home rule. Amid the upheavals of the 1960s, they gave expression to the frustrations of black residents and wrestled for control of their city. Bringing together histories of the carceral and welfare states, as well as the civil rights and Black

Power movements, Lauren Pearlman narrates this struggle for self-determination in the nation’s capital. She captures the transition from black protest to black political power under the Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon administrations and against the backdrop of lo-

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

cal battles over the War on Poverty and the War on Crime. As Pearlman reveals, this conflict laid the foundation for the next fifty years of D.C. governance, connecting issues of civil rights, law and order, and urban renewal.

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Are You Registered to Vote?

Submitted by DC League of Women Voters You may hear that question when you talk to a member of the DC League of Women Voters. We ask if you are registered to vote at your current address with your current name. We want to register every eligible voter, including returning citizens, incarcerated citizens, native Washingtonians, new US citizens, including you!

The US League is 100 years old this year and was established to help people become informed citizens. We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate.

We work to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. We also promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all residents. As a non-partisan organization we want to make sure that people know who is on the ballot so they can make educated choices when they vote. You can go to Vote411.org and put in your address to find out who is on your ballot and what they say for themselves.

This past year the League launched our People Powered Fair Maps Campaign (PPFM) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We think that maps that determine the lines of Congressional districts (and Ward districts in DC) should be drawn by independent, non-partisan commissions with transparency and fairness.

Partisan gerrymandering is not fair and is damaging to our democracy because it prevents fair representation of everyone. We oppose all voter suppression and are working hard through legislation and lawsuits in many parts of the country to stop such practices. The DC League of Women Voters is participating in PPFM by working to get ON the map as a state.

The DC League is also 100 years old this year! We called ourselves the “voteless League of Women Voters” in 1921. We work to gain full rights for DC citizens and improve the living and working conditions of our communities. Over the years, we pushed for Child Labor Laws, opposed “clearing slums”, called for safe and sanitary public housing, and took on gun control. The DC League

Nationwide candidate info Polling place locations Online voter registration tool ID requirements

desegregated in 1944, declared “segregation is discrimination” in 1946, and elected our first African American president in 1963. For more history, see our Centennial Timeline at www.lwvdc.org.

What does “full rights” mean?

It means joining the rest of the United States by becoming a state, fully equal to the other 50 states.

We would have 2 Senators like the other states, ! We r a e and representay this d l tives according o n e s om year W 0 to our populaf 0 o 1 gue lso C a a D e tion (right now s i L r o s e f s u s e l t g a e h t e g we are entitled o i L C ns e “v ull r f o h i t t n i i s The D to one).

It d a e elv con to g s r g k u r n i o also means we o k r w called nd wo would have full 1. We a 2 g 9 n 1 i v n i i l local control of ” e s r h . ies ve t t i Vote o r n our laws, our p u d im omm n c a judicial system, r s u n o of citize our budget. It means that the President could not order in troops without our governor’s consent.

The United States would still have a national capital in a smaller federal district. The dis-

Absentee ballot info Ballot measure info Early voting options Election dates

trict would hold the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, the Mall, White House, monuments and congressional office building and Congress would have total control over it. Our neighborhoods—our fire stations, hospitals, schools, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and homes where 705,000 of us live and work would all be in the new state.

This year has been historic for DC in our fight for Statehood.

The Washington, DC (Douglass Commonwealth) Admission Act has passed the House for the first time ever. The bill is on the Senate floor for the first time ever. We need the Senate to pass the bill and the sitting president to sign it to become the 51st state just like all the other 37 states have entered the Union after the first 13— through a majority vote. If it does not pass this time, the bill will be reintroduced in the next Congress.

League members have traveled all over, visiting 30 states and Hong Kong. We know just how

little people living in the 50 states understand about how DC is governed and why we need to become a state. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton is a powerful voice for DC in the House, but she cannot vote on the House floor. And, without Senators, DC has no vote on Supreme Court judges, and can get shortchanged like we did on COVID-19 relief funding. When people hear that we have more people than 2 states, we pay taxes, serve in the military, hold regular jobs like they do, they support our drive for statehood. You can help by asking your friends and relatives who live in the 50 states to sign our petition supporting statehood at www.lwvdc.org. You can invite us to talk to your community group (on Zoom, for now) by writing to statehood@lwvdc.org.

We invite you to join the League at www.lwvdc.org. We want to have all our DC communities represented on our member rolls. We welcome anyone over 16 years old. ES

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Voting is

POWERFUL!

Make a plan (and a back-up plan)

Do it NOW

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s e y a t w o v to The future is shaped by those who show up!

Vote-at-home ballot is safe, easy and reliable • Review your candidate choices on Vote411.org • Fill out your ballot and sign the envelope • Submit it in a secure drop box or at a voting center or a US mail box.

Vote in person EARLY • Review your candidate choices on Vote411.org • Where? When? Vote411.org has all the information you need.

Vote in person on Election Day • Review your candidate choices on Vote411.org • Where? When? Vote411.org has all the information you need.

All 18+ year old DC Citizens including returning citizens and the currently incarcerated are eligible to vote.

We welcome your membership in the DC League of Women Voters: LWVDC.org/join -- and yes, men join too!

Información Electoral que Necesita: Vote411.org/es Election Information You Need: Vote411.org

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Ready, Set, Vote! What You Need to Know to Vote Safely in the District of Columbia The D.C. Board of Elections is mailing a ballot to each of the city’s more than 500,000 registered voters in early October and expanding in-person early voting to give voters more options.

• D.C. residents can use absentee ballots to safely vote from home.

They can also avoid Election Day crowds by voting early and in person at 32 polling locations from Oct. 27 through Nov. 2.

• Beginning in October, voters will be able to track the status of their mail-in ballots on the Board of Elections website.

• The Board of Elections will use 95 of its usual 144 polling places on Election Day because smaller venues cannot accommodate social distancing.

How do I register to vote?

You can download a registration application from the Board of Elections website and email, mail or fax it back, or deliver it in person. If

you can’t download the application, request one from the Board of Elections.

Applications submitted online or by mail must be received by Oct. 13.

But you can also register in person as late as Election Day. The D.C. Board of Elections is also mailing paperwork to registered voters to confirm their address and voter information. You need to return it only if you spot incorrect information or if you’d like your ballot sent to another address. If you return it, be sure to send the entire form to the Board of Elections.

How do I know my absentee ballot is secure?

Each voter’s ballot has a unique bar code. The D.C. Board of Elections has been using the process successfully for 20 years. Voters can drop off a completed mail ballot in ANY Ballot Drop Box at ANY time before 8 pm on Election Day, November 3, 2020.

There will be at least five boxes in each Ward.

How can I get an absentee ballot? Are there important deadlines?

All registered voters will be mailed a ballot and a postage-paid return envelope. You can also download an absentee ballot request form. Completed ballots must be postmarked

by Election Day and must arrive no later than Nov. 13 — 10 days after Election Day.

When is Election Day? When are polls open?

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be fewer polling places open because of the coronavirus, so voters may not be able to vote at their usual polling place. Check for the polling place closest to you at the Board of Elections website, under registration status.

Can I vote in person before Election Day? D.C. will offer early voting at 32 polling locations beginning on Oct. 27 and running through Nov. 2, the day before Election Day. Polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check out the district’s early voting information portal to find the location of all early voting centers. You can cast your ballot at any of these locations.

There will be six Super Vote Centers throughout the city that can accommodate large numbers of voters, both during early voting and on Election Day. These include: • Capital One Arena in Ward 2 • Dock 5 @ Union Market in Ward 5 • Entertainment and Sports Arena in Ward 8 • Omni Shoreham Hotel in Ward 3 • Nationals Park in Ward 6 • University of the District of Columbia in Ward 3.

What form of identification do I need to vote?

Registered voters do not need to show ID, unless you’re voting for the first time and registered online or by mail. Then you’ll need to show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport, or a recent utility bill or bank statement. See the full list of acceptable IDs. What is being done to make polling places safe from coronavirus?

Polling places will have hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, disinfectant and social-distancing markers.

Will be curbside voting be available for older adults or those with disabilities who vote in person?

Voters over the age of 65 and voters with a disability who choose to vote in person can take advantage of curbside voting at all polling locations except for Super Vote Centers.

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District of Columbia

Your Vote. Your Voice. Our Fight.

As our nation battles a pandemic and economic downturn, the health and financial security of voters over 50 are on the line.

That’s why AARP DC is fighting for your voice to be heard.

AARP DC wants to make sure that you know all of your voting options and that all Americans—from working parents to family caregivers to seniors in nursing homes—can vote safely whether they choose to vote from home or in-person.

For more information on how you can vote safely and make your voice heard, visit aarp.org/DCvotes facebook.com/aarpdc | @AARPDC | aarp.org/DC PAID FOR BY AARP

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SINCE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT PASSED IN 1965, WE’VE NEEDED 5 AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT IT Voting was and still is our super power. It keeps people and neighborhoods from being ignored. We celebrate the people who not only got knocked down, but who kept getting up. Join AARP DC as we continue the journey to protect and empower people of all races and ages in the District of Columbia.

Your Vote is POWERFUL Learn more at aarp.org/DCvotes

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

The Maryland State Board of Elections has taken a number of steps to ensure eligible Maryland voters can safely cast their general election ballots in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To reduce exposure to the novel coronavirus, Maryland voters are encouraged to vote by mail in the 2020 general election. Eligible voters across the state have been mailed applications for mail-in ballots along with postage-paid return envelopes to submit their applications. Voters’ requests for mail-in ballots must be received by October 20. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters via first-class U.S. Mail beginning in late September and continuing through October.

In order to be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3 and the oath on the postage-paid return envelope that arrives with the ballot must be signed.

“Voting by mail is safe, easy and free,” said Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Linda

Lamone. “We encourage all eligible voters in the state to request their ballots early and cast their votes early.”

In addition to voting by mail, voters will have the option of submitting the mail-in ballots at ballot

drop boxes located throughout the state. Each Maryland jurisdiction will have at least two ballot drop box locations available to voters.

The state’s most populous counties and the City of Baltimore will have additional ballot drop boxes to ac-

2020 Presidential General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2020

STAY SAFE. VOTE-BY-MAIL. Step 1:

REQUEST A BALLOT MUST BE RECEIVED

BY OCTOBER 20 To vote-by-mail in the 2020 Presidential General Election you must request a ballot.

Your ballot request must be received by October 20.

Step 2:

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR BALLOT You can track your ballot application status online.

Ballots will begin arriving in early October.

Step 3:

COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT & SIGN THE ENVELOPE Follow the instructions.

Step 4:

RETURN YOUR BALLOT

BY NOVEMBER 3 Return your completed ballot to an official election drop box by 8pm on November 3 or postmark by November 3.

ARE YOU REGISTERED? To be eligible to vote, you must register or update your voter registration information

by Tuesday, October 13.

commodate the greater number of eligible voters residing in those jurisdictions. Voters can submit their completed mail-in ballots at any drop box located in their jurisdiction of residence.

In all, 282 ballot drop boxes will be available at 281 locations around the state. Two ballot drop boxes will be available at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The complete list of ballot drop box locations is available at: https://elections. maryland.gov/elections/2020/ PG20_Drop%20Box%20Locations.xlsx Just as with ballots submitted by mail, in order for ballots submitted at drop boxes to count they must be sealed in the return envelopes that accompany the ballots and the voter oath on the envelope must be signed. Ballot drop boxes will begin opening around the state roughly 30 days prior to Election Day, November 3. Once open, the ballot drop boxes will remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters may also drop their completed, signed and sealed ballots at local election board offices. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, office hours may be adjusted. Voters should call their local board of elections to confirm office hours and locations.

In-person voting will be available during eight days of early voting – from Monday, October 26 to Monday, November 2 – and on Election Day, November 3. To make in-person voting safe, voters must remain six feet apart and wear a mask. To maintain proper distancing, the number of voters permitted inside a voting center at one time may be limited, which could result in lines and wait times.

Early voting centers and Election Day vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at any authorized voting location within their jurisdiction of residence.

A complete list of early voting locations can be found here: https://elections.maryland. gov/elections/2020/2020%20 Early%20Voting%20Centers.pdf A complete list of Election Day vote centers can be found here: https://elections.maryland.gov/ elections/2020/PG20_List%20 o f % 2 0 El e c t i o n % 2 0 Da y % 2 0 Vote%20Centers.xlsx “This public health crisis has resulted in a number of changes to the way Marylanders will cast their ballots this fall, but we are confident every eligible voter will have the opportunity to safely exercise their right to vote,” said Lamone.

“Our message to all Marylanders is don’t wait – don’t wait to apply for your mail-in ballot and don’t wait to cast your vote.”

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or vote in-person EARLY VOTING October 26– November 2 7am–8pm

ELECTION DAY November 3 7am–8pm

Learn more about registering, requesting a ballot, or in-person voting options at

ELECTIONS.MARYLAND.GOV/2020

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2020 Presidential General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2020 ARE YOU REGISTERED? To be eligible to vote, you must register or update your voter registration information

by Tuesday, October 13.

request a request a

STAY SAFE. VOTE-BY-MAIL.

or vote in-person

Step 1:

EARLY VOTING

REQUEST A BALLOT MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 20 To vote-by-mail in the 2020 Presidential General Election you must request a ballot.

Your ballot request must be received by October 20.

track your

Step 2:

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR BALLOT You can track your ballot application status online.

Ballots will begin arriving in early October.

track your

October 26– November 2 7am–8pm

6oct 2 2 nov

ELECTION DAY November 3 7am–8pm

nov

3

Step 3:

COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT & SIGN THE ENVELOPE Follow the instructions.

drop box

Step 4:

RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY NOVEMBER 3 Return your completed ballot to an official election drop box by 8pm on November 3 or postmark

by November 3.

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2020 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Learn more about registering, requesting a ballot, or in-person voting options at

ELECTIONS.MARYLAND.GOV/2020

Jacque Patterson: The Parent Choice for State Board of Education At-Large When I first moved to Washington, DC, 25 years ago, I was a single father with a little girl. At the time, Ward 8 didn’t have any grocery stores, a single sit-down restaurant or any place for my daughter to play.

While the rest of the city enjoyed the very things that make a community strong, Ward 8 went without.

So, I rolled up my sleeves and went to work. I was elected to serve as the advisory neighborhood commissioner in my neighborhood and I begam working with residents and other community leaders to assist in building the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Center (THEARC). We worked with Mayor Anthony Williams to get the Giant grocery store built, replace the check cashing place with Andrews Federal Credit Union, and rebuild the Douglass Stanton Dwelling into a mixed-use affordable housing community. It didn’t matter that my first elected office was an unpaid “advisory” position, it was about organizing a community around the common good. I’ve always believed that it’s not the power of the position you hold, but about empowering the people you lead. For the past 10 years, I have been working as a lead-

5 It’s important that we elevate the parents’ voice in public education because they are an instrumental part of a student’s academic success, as we’re finding out even more during this pandemic and distance learning.

er in public education at Rocketship and KIPP DC to ensure students and parents have quality education options in their community as well as amplifying community and parent voices in our schools.

The role of a State Board of Education representative is to provide educational policy leadership and advocate for needed change to ensure that every student is valued and learn the skills and knowledge necessary to

become an informed, competent and contributing global citizen. Currently, I am the only candidate who has relationships with current members on the SBOE; Ward 6 representative, Jessica Sutter, and Ward 2 representative Jack Jacobson as well as members of the DC council; Robert White, Jr., Vince Gray and Trayon White. These relationships are pivotal to getting policy implemented for students, teachers and parents and as the AtLarge representative, I will leverage these relationships to ensure that our school are equitably resourced, retain the best teacher talent and are more anti-racist in policy and practice.

I’m running for the State Board

of Education, At-Large seat because public education needs that same kind of community support to make it more equitable for every student, regardless of their zip code. The lessons I have learned in helping to revitalize my community and build relationships across the District, I’ll bring to the State Board of Education; starting with our parents. If elected to the State Board of Education, I’ll be the only father with school age children enrolled in DC Public Schools. It’s important that we elevate the parents’ voice in public education because they are an instrumental part of a student’s academic success, as we’re finding out even more during this pandemic and distance learning.

I believe that we must organize and elevate the community’s voice around the issues that impact marginalized neighborhoods where educational inequities have become status quo. The quality of a neighborhood starts with the quality of education it provides its residents, regardless of their zip code.

It’s time that we elected parent leaders to the SBOE. More than ever, we need proven leadership to truly close the equity and opportunity gap in communities across DC. I’m looking forward to representing every student, teacher, family and community as the at-large representative on the DC State Board of Education. I’m the only candidate running that has 20 plus years of experience in community advocacy and educational leadership. That’s why I’m asking you to join our campaign for a more equitable DC education system and vote for Jacque Patterson on November 3rd. ES

The role of a State Board of Education representative is to provide educational policy leadership and advocate for needed change to ensure that every student is valued and learn the skills and knowledge necessary to become an informed, competent and contributing global citizen.

PAID FOR BY JACQUE 4 DC 2020

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The District’s Home Rule History and Statehood Goal

By James Wright and Shantella Y. Sherman WI Staff Writers The District operates politically under a Home Rule Charter in which local officials legislate and manage the city under the watchful eye of the U.S. Congress, an arrangement unique to the nation’s capital. Residents who recall the early days of home rule continue to express a wide range of views, including a continued desire for statehood.

The District Home Rule Act, passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Nixon, became operational on Dec. 24, 1973, allowing the city limited self-government for the first time in over a century. The legislation devolved certain congressional powers of the District to local government, including a charter providing for the election of a mayor, city council and elected community leaders known as advisory neighborhood commissioners. Under the charter, Congress reviews legislation passed by the council and signed by the mayor and retains authority over the city’s budget. The charter mandates that the President appoint District judges with Senate approval, but no provision exists granting voting representation in the U.S. Congress.

The District’s road to Home Rule took nearly two centuries, starting in 1790 when the Congress created the District from land given to it from Maryland and Virginia for a national capital. In 1802, citizens of Washington City, a part of the District at

that time, petitioned Congress for a municipal charter. The congressionally-approved charter incorporated Washington as a city and allowed voters to elect a legislative body—a council—and its government had the ability to assess taxes on real estate to pay for governmental functions. The charter also created a mayoral position appointed by the President.

In 1846, the Virginia portion of the District receded back to that state.

In the early 1870s, the three portions of the District--Washington City, Georgetown and Washington County in Maryland--came under one jurisdiction and achieved territorial status with a governor and a council appointed by the President, a House of Delegates elected by the people and a nonvoting delegate to the Congress.

Under a cloud of scandal a few years after, Congress scrapped the territorial system and installed three commissioners appointed by the President to manage the District. The commissioner system lasted nearly a century.

Dr. Calvin Rolark, staunch proponent of Home Rule, statehood, and the founder of the Washington Informer, said of this history that it implied not only the lack of capacity among District residents in the mind of federal leaders, but also fed the fears of federal authorities that the right to govern would negatively impact the nation.

“I fully believe that the creation of an Attorney General Office for the District would substantially increase citizen involvement, especially considering the role of District voters in the structure of the office,” he said

5 Walter Washington served as the first elected mayor of the District. (WI File Photo)

in a November 1983 commentary.

“Secondly, to the question of the desirability of transferring the power of appointment and confirmation of judges from the President and the U.S. Senate to the mayor and the city council, I am stringently in favor of an independent judiciary. Further, I am aware that legislative history suggests that congress allowed for presidential appointment of judges to insure an independent judiciary. However, in my opinion, mayoral appointment and city council confirmation would in no way undermine the independence of the office. Furthermore, the mayor and city council are just as able to apply the criteria used by the President and senate in appointment and confirmation decisions.”

Throughout the years, District residents pressed the Congress for Home Rule and as a result, the Senate passed bills calling for it six times from 1948 to 1966. However, the Senate’s Home Rule bills died each time in the House District of Columbia Committee because of the Southern chairmen’s hostility toward the city’s large Black population. Home Rule had the endorsement of President Dwight Eisenhower during the 1950s.

In 1961, the 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed allowing District residents three electors in the Electoral College during presidential election years. In 1967, with the civil rights movement in full force, President Lyndon Johnson disbanded the commissioners and appointed a mayor-commissioner and a nine-member council. Also, in 1967, District residents won the right to elect a school board. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the District a nonvoting member of Congress.

A Home Rule bill passed the Congress in 1973 when segregationist Rep. John McMillan, who chaired the House District of Columbia Committee, lost re-election and Nixon signed the measure. In 1974, District voters elected their first mayor and a 13-member council under Home Rule. Still, statehood remains elusive.

Howard University political science professor Michael Fauntroy’s work, Home Rule or House Rule: Congress and the Erosion of Local Governance in the District of Columbia, leads the discourse in documenting the city’s fight for

5 The District was granted “limited self-government” in 1973, though statehood remains elusive. (WI File Photo)

legislative autonomy. He told the Informer in a 2014 interview that while he believed statehood was theoretically still possible, achieving it would require a committed effort by proponents of statehood to inform the nation about how the city currently operates. Fauntroy also said he believed an impassioned desire among residents was required to seize it.

“I think it’s theoretically possible [to gain statehood], though I don’t think there is enough energy in the streets to make it happen. Ultimately you have to scare the members of Congress by un-electing some of them as we saw in 1972 and there is not enough energy to un-elect people in any significant way,” Fauntroy said. “I am probably a little less hopeful now than I was at the time that I wrote Home Rule and this was over a decade ago, in part because I think that the kind of street mobilization that you need is not on the radar of many of the people who need to be in the streets and organizing not just here in the District but around the country to try to get this done. I’m

frustrated, very frustrated by that generally.”

Former House Committee on the District of Columbia staffer, Nelson Rimensnyder shared a panel with Fauntroy and The Honorable Sterling Tucker, the first elected City Council chairman, on the 40th anniversary of Home Rule.

Citing the 1994 adoption by the D.C. Council of Act 10-222 that states: “No D.C. resident shall be required to make federal income tax payments until such time as the District is granted full representation in both houses of Congress,” Rimensnyder labeled District residents as third-class citizens.

“Some leaders like to go around saying that we are second-class citizens, but in fact, we are third-class citizens because we are behind Puerto Rico and other territories. We are the only Americans taxed without our consent and I think that is the message we have to take to the country and the Congress. We are tired of being taxed without our consent. That is what this country was founded upon - it is in our Declaration of Independence,” Rimensnyder said. ES

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ELECTION DAY IS A MERE 24 DAYS AWAY! It’s essential that every citizen register to VOTE and cast their ballot. This is the best way to make sure that your voice is heard on those issues you and your family care about.

“ENERGIZE OUR VOICES” Let’s all

and make sure to VOTE before or on Tuesday,

NOVEMBER 3rd!

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