Baltimore Voters Turn Out To 'Push Things In The Right Direction'

BALTIMORE, MD — As polls opened for Election Day 2018 at Francis Scott Key Elementary, there was a steady stream of voters. Most came on foot and some rolled in by scooter, holding umbrellas and in some cases, young children.

All of them came with a purpose.

Delegate Brooke Lierman, who was outside the school in south Baltimore under an orange-and-black Orioles umbrella before 7 a.m., said the rain was not a deterrent; there was already a line when she arrived, she told Patch.

"All I can say is, America, do the right thing," Lierman, a Democrat, said. "I hope people vote against the message of hate and divisiveness" that have permeated national discourse, she said.

Check out these special stickers for voting in Locust Point! Love it. pic.twitter.com/AnrUPIP26T
— Brooke Lierman (@BELBaltimore) November 6, 2018

Regarding the gubernatorial race, Lierman told Patch: "A vote for Ben Jealous means a vote for standing up for a more inclusive and just country."

When you meet some political heroes on a corner in Baltimore on Election Day...! #Vote2018 pic.twitter.com/owGieyRXNO
— Brooke Lierman (@BELBaltimore) November 6, 2018

The precinct for which Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School is the polling place includes more than 3,300 voters, with the following breakdown:

• 1,738 are Democrats.
• 805 are Republicans.
• 736 are unaffiliated.
• 30 are libertarian.

Signs outside the polling place promoted Democratic candidate Ben Jealous, former head of the NAACP and challenger of Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican.

It was not about party for some voters.

Will Jovel cast his ballot as a way to "express my dissatisfaction on both sides" of the aisle, he told Patch. Voting was an attempt at "trying to push things in the right direction," Jovel said, such as keeping "money out of politics."

Eboni Woodard, who came to the polls around 7:30 a.m., said she researched the candidates and voted for Jealous because she "liked what he stands for."

Said Woodard: "We need change."

Others disagreed.

Dawn and Marian Bruce said in unison that what brought them to polls was "Larry Hogan."

Said Dawn Bruce: "There's no need to change course. He has what it takes and has made more jobs available."

She added: "The economy is my number-one issue, and he has done a great job."

Another voter who was in a hurry to leave told Patch she voted for Larry Hogan to be governor and "against every sitting congressman and senator."

Sean Flanigan said he voted to do his "civic duty," a sentiment that several voters at Francis Scott Key echoed.

Did you vote on Election Day? Tell us in the comments!

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• Baltimore City Election Guide 2018
• Maryland Votes 2018; Election Results To Come

More than 47,000 voters in Baltimore City cast their ballots during the early voting period.

That represented a 12.2 percent turnout, based on preliminary Maryland Board of Elections data.

Early voting brought thousands of voters to the polls. In Baltimore, the busiest day by far was the eighth and final day of early voting, with 8,665 people casting their ballots on Thursday, Nov. 1. Pictured above is the line an hour before polls closed that evening for early voting at the Westside Skill Center on Edmondson Avenue. Main photo of Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle was taken after 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Photos by Elizabeth Janney.