End One Party Rule in Maryland

The Maryland Primary this past June 24th was a real eye opener for this voter. Local politicians rolling up to the Early Voting locations in their own transport vehicles full  of voters carrying tote bags with the campaign name; what is this really all about a? Judges “running” for their bench, the incumbents lining up together to prevent a challenger from possibly bumping one of them out; what is this really all about? Roughly only 20% of registered, party-affiliated voters statewide came out, disappointing but an indicator of an “oh well” attitude?

I do not vote for anyone who is unchallenged on the ballot. They do not need my vote. This move of mine would of course be more effective if an unchallenged candidate was required to gain a minimum number of votes based on registered voters; but that is not the case in Maryland. If one dominant-party cannot put forth a challenger to the other dominant-party candidate, are we really stuck with this One-Party politician? Under the current gerrymandering, and group-representational districting, yes. But look again. What may at first seem to be an unchallenged candidate, in the General Election, may in fact be one who is challenged by a “weak” candidate, weak being defined as a third or fourth party, or unaffiliated candidate. Visiting the state or county Board of Elections may surprise some, finding out that their local candidate does face a challenge, “weak” though it may seem to be. If, for example, you are to vote in three people for your District’s 3 Delegates to the Maryland General Assembly, and there is one of these ”weak” candidates, or even just one of the other party, go rogue. Bump one of the dominant assumed-to-be-Delegates out and vote the “odd” candidate. There are more than a couple of Legislative Districts in Maryland with this situation. Or, just vote the one; forget the others! You are not required to vote in every single place on a ballot. End the One Party Rule, the one party assumption of power.

I carry with me a folder tabbed by “seat” listing all who will appear on the ballot regardless of party affiliation. I have created a “crib” sheet that lists out those for who I am voting come November. When asked about the upcoming election, I pull it out, or the tab with my inquisitive friend’s district to show them who is running and who I would recommend. And, yes, mine does include a third party candidate. With such a large Unaffiliated Voter population in Maryland, this is an effort that everyone should develop and share (and, no, I do not believe in Open Primaries for any Party).

Elections and elected offices are just too important to assume they are safe, by the voter or the voted-in. If we are not being represented, if it has become an agenda-driven representation by our incumbents, about form fitting a community to a particular agenda, what has Maryland’s One Party Rule done to its populace.

The November 2014 election is very important, in local offices, county, state as well as our representation as Marylanders in national offices. Everyone has a responsibility to investigate just who is running for office this time, to get out and vote for one with integrity. The time is over for letting One Party Rule exist in Maryland. Make them work for your vote. Force them to represent YOU. And know what it is that is important to this state and your place here. Do not continue to accept everything at face value.

But more importantly, remember that it is a secret ballot. No one but you knows where your vote is going. Smile at the poll place literature distributors and walk right on in. In that voting “booth”