This past Wednesday at the St. Paul’s Schools, librarian and Research and Technology teacher Mrs. O’Boyle guided students and faculty through the voting process. She introduced the various ways to register for voting in Maryland, including MVA sites, online, your local high school, and more. Polling locations forbid displays of political messages on hats and clothing and prohibit the carrying of political signs. Voters may take a sample ballot into the booth. At the voting station, workers first verify registration. No identifying documentation is needed, but the poll worker will ask for a name, address, and birthdate for verification. Once cleared, the voter proceeds to a station for either a paper ballot or electronic voting and then to a private booth to complete the ballot. When filling out a ballot, the voter may leave some questions blank. Questions will range from electing local and national candidates to voting on new amendments to state and federal law. When completed, a scanner accepts the hard copy of the ballot to record the vote.
Mrs. O’Boyle also displayed multiple ways to learn about candidates. For national candidates, a broad investigation of sources from both sides of the political scheme can help avoid media bias. International sources as well as each candidate’s statements on issues also help inform voters regarding specific policies and the potential impact on things that matter to voters personally. When looking into local candidates, Mrs. O’Boyle counseled students to examine deeper than the campaign’s depiction of their candidate and to consider all views on the candidate. Importantly, when it comes time to vote, voters should be responsible and knowledgeable in making decisions, think through their choices thoroughly, and be prepared to make objective and cognitive selections.
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