九色视频

九色视频 鈥� Talbot County led all counties in percentage of eligible active voters who voted early this primary election, state data shows.

According to unofficial early voting turnout from the State Board of Elections, exactly 2,000 residents cast their ballot early, representing 9.07% of the 22,053 eligible voters. That percentage is more than 1% higher than all other counties and Baltimore City, with Calvert County coming in second at 7.89% of residents voting early.

Talbot County is no stranger to high early voting marks. In the 2022 primary, 11.12% of eligible active voters visited the ballot box early. Overall, this year鈥檚 2,000 mark was down from 2022, during which 2,484 voted early.

Early voting ended off strong Thursday, with 412 residents voting, the highest of the eight days early voting was available at the Easton Volunteer Fire Department.

On Wednesday, the penultimate day of early voting, Chief Election Judge Roshanda Roberts reported a 鈥渟teady鈥� turnout.

鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 probably more than we expected,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥� ... We did have some first-time voters, as well. That鈥檚 exciting to see, the younger generation come out and vote.鈥�

Residents leaving the polls Wednesday said early voting felt more logical for them.

鈥淲e wanted to beat the rush and the lines, and this was fantastic,鈥� St. Michaels resident John Marrah said. He and his wife, Marcia, voted Wednesday afternoon at the firehouse.

Resident Karen Coleman echoed the same idea, noting that she and her husband are both retired.

鈥淭here was no reason for us to hold people up who have to work and possibly can only vote on Tuesday,鈥� Coleman said.

Across all eight days of early voting, Republicans slightly edged Democrats in turnout 鈥� 1,135 Republicans (9.72% of those eligible) and 865 Democrats (8.33% of those eligible) took to the polls.

The key race in this year鈥檚 primary is on the Republican end, as six County Council candidates will be whittled down to five after the primary wraps up. All five Democrats are on the primary ballot, though they automatically advance through to the general election in November.

Council candidates make final push

Those six Republicans 鈥� Chuck Callahan, Frank Gunsallus, Christian Mackendrick, Lynn Mielke, Dave Stepp and Wade Strickland 鈥� are vying to punch their ticket through to November. The top five vote-getters will face off against each other and the Democrats in November: Chris Armstrong, Michael Bibb, Marvin Foster, Pete Lesher and Brian Naranjo.

Some of the 285 voters who voted Wednesday were met by some Republican candidates, who set up chairs and chatted with voters before casting.

鈥淚 love interacting with voters,鈥� Stepp said. 鈥淚 think all of our candidates for elected office should be out here so that way, they can answer questions for people before they cast their ballots. It鈥檚 earning votes the hard way, one by one.鈥�

鈥淲e have the opportunity to meet people right at the polling station, you know, as opposed to knocking on doors and calling people and hoping to get them to come out,鈥� Gunsallus said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 that chance to speak with people as they鈥檙e on their way in.鈥�

Strickland posted multiple to his Facebook page with Stepp and Gunsallus from the fire hall parking lot, encouraging Talbot residents to come out to early voting. Mackendrick posted a similar to his own Facebook on Wednesday morning.

The Talbot Republican Central Committee has backed all candidates but Mielke in the primary, citing her voting record on a diversity statement, short-term rental legislation and the county budget two years ago, among other items. Mielke has countered the committee鈥檚 criticisms.

On Wednesday outside the firehouse, Mielke touched on the importance of speaking with voters, and the committee鈥檚 opposition to her.

鈥淭his gives people the opportunity to speak with the candidates,鈥� Mielke said of meeting with voters. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 always attend meet and greets, or are invited to attend meet and greets by parties, so it gives them an opportunity to hear the public.鈥�

The Republican Central Committee hosted a candidate meet and greet June 7, which included its slate of endorsed council candidates. Mielke was not invited.

Mielke said Wednesday in light of criticism from the central committee, she has been 鈥渃linging鈥� to Ronald Reagan鈥檚 Eleventh Commandment, which he used while campaigning for governor of California in 1966.

鈥淭hou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican,鈥� Mielke quoted. 鈥淭hose rules don鈥檛 apply here.鈥�

Editor Konner Metz contributed reporting.