Prince George’s County special election cost estimated at $1.3 million, and counting

Prince George’s County Board of Elections meet July 8 in Largo. Photo by William J. Ford.

A special election to fill a vacant at-large Prince George’s County Council seat could cost an estimated $1.3 million, the county Board of Elections was told Monday.

Election Administrator Wendy Honesty-Bey said that is just the cost of running the election – it does not include expenses such as printing ballots and training about 400 election judges who will be needed. She said after the meeting that those costs will be split with the state.

“We were able to utilize a lot of internal staff so that we can cut down on costs for this special election,” she said of the operational costs.

Officials have little time to spare to get ready for the election to fill the at-large County Council seat vacated by Jamel “Mel” Franklin last month: Primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 6, with the winner of those races squaring off in the Nov. 5 general election.

Honesty-Bey said about 600,000 ballots will be mailed to registered voters countywide starting July 23. Voters will be able to cast early ballots at nine voting centers located at public schools, or put their ballots in one of 39 drop-off boxes throughout the county between July 31 and Aug. 5.

Nine Democrats and four Republicans have filed to run in the primary. According to the county board , the Democratic candidates are County Council Chair Jolene Ivey, state Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr., former Del. Angela M. Angel, Bowie Mayor Tim Adams, Tamara Davis Brown, Gabriel Njinimbot, Keisha D. Lewis, Judy Mickens-Murray and Leo Bachi Eyombo.

The Republican candidates are Kamita Gray, Michael Riker, Isaac Toyos and Jonathan White.

Two other people expressed interest in the seat, but decided to withdraw from the race.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Current County Council member Wala Beglay (D) wrote in a letter last week that she will support Adams, while Prince George’s Circuit Court Clerk Mahasin El Amin, who already had at least one campaign sign posted last week, near Ritchie Station Marketplace in Capitol Heights, reversed course Friday.

“After much reflection, I have chosen to postpone my campaign until the next opportunity,” El Amin wrote in a letter posted on her Instagram page. “In the wake of the challenging and intense US Senate primary race that divided our County, this is a crucial time for healing and unity. Staying in the race now could deepen those divisions. I believe that postponing my campaign is what’s best for our beloved Prince George’s County.”

Franklin, a council member for the past 14 years, resigned abruptly June 14. Less than a week later, he was charged with multiple counts in what authorities said was a theft scheme that involved more than $133,000 from his campaign account.

The winner of this fall’s special election would serve the remaining two years of Franklin’s term. The winner of next month’s Democratic primary will be the heavy favorite to win Franklin’s seat in November in the overwhelmingly Democratic county. The county council has been an all-Democratic body for at least two decades.

Meanwhile, the Prince George’s County NAACP branch will hold a candidate’s forum at Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale at 11 a.m. Aug. 3.

“Our biggest goal is to let people know they can get the right candidate for your community,” said Linda Thornton Thomas, president of the NAACP. “You should be aware of what’s going on to make an educated vote.”

In addition to sending ballots by mail – which Democatic elections board member Faye Martin Howell noted “has been really slow” – Honesty-Bey said the office will continue to spread the word about the special election via social media and its website.

Polls are scheduled to be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 31-Aug. 3 and again on Aug. 5; noon-6 p.m. Aug. 4; and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 6.

A list of the voting centers will be posted on the county Board of Elections website this week.

The post Prince George’s County special election cost estimated at $1.3 million, and counting appeared first on Maryland Matters .