Early Voting Starts In Howard County Primary: Here Are The Candidates

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Twelve candidates are vying for a seat on the Howard County school board as early voting began Thursday. Crowded Congressional races are also on the ballot in the 2024 primary election.

Primary Election Day is May 14. Marylanders can vote in person, by mail or via ballot dropboxes.

The White House also is up for grabs with a rematch of the 2020 election. Maryland Circuit Court judges are again on the ballot. Congressional elections also are underway for the primary election. Maryland's race for U.S. Senate features two Democrats and a former Republican governor hoping to replace a retiring congressman. Another congressman is retiring in the House of Representatives. That leaves several state lawmakers and a former U.S. Capitol Police officer vying for the open seat.

How To Vote

Early voting runs from Thursday, May 2, through Thursday, May 9. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day that week. Marylanders can vote at any early voting center in the county they live in. All the early voting center locations are posted here.

There are five early voting centers in Howard County:

• Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, 21044
• Gary J Arthur Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, 21723
• Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, 5001 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City, 21043
• North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, 20723
• St. John Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Drive, Columbia, 21045

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 14. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents must vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day. Voters can check their assigned polling place at this link. Residents can request a mail-in ballot from the State Board of Elections or their local board.

• If you want to receive your ballot by mail or fax, your request must be received (not just mailed) by Tuesday, May 7.
• If you want to receive your ballot via the internet, your request must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, for a request sent in the mail, or by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 10, for a request sent by fax or submitted online.
• If you hand deliver your request and the ballots are ready, you can pick up your mail-in ballot. You may take your mail-in ballot with you and return it by mail or you can vote it at the local board office and give it to an election official. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in person is Election Day, May 14, 2024. Visit your local board of elections' website for hours of operation.

Mail-in ballots must be postmarked or placed in one of these dropboxes by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Marylanders can update their address or register to vote at any early voting center in their county or at their assigned polling place on Election Day. Residents must bring their MVA-issued license, permit, ID card or change of address card. The ID can also be a paycheck, bank statement or utility bill. A government document with the voter's name and new address will also suffice.
More information about how to vote is posted here.

Howard County Board of Education

Councilmanic District 1
Andre Gao
Pravin Ponnuri
Meg Ricks

Councilmanic District 2
Larry Doyle
Antonia Watts

Councilmanic District 3
Jolene Mosley

Councilmanic District 4
Hiruy Hadgu
Julie Kaplan
Jen Mallo

Councilmanic District 5
Catherine Carter
Andrea Chamblee
Trent Kittleman

Judge of the Circuit Court

Judicial Circuit 5 - Lara Weathersbee (Howard County)

U.S. Senate

Maryland will elect a successor to retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D). The winner of that race will serve a six-year term in Congress. Senators don't have term limits.

Candidates include:

Democrats

• Angela Alsobrooks
• Michael W. Cobb, Sr.
• Marcellus Crews
• Brian E. Frydenborg
• Scottie J. Griffin
• Robert K. Houton
• Joseph Perez
• Steven Henry Seuferer
• David J. Trone
• Andrew Jaye Wildman

Republicans

• Moe H. Barakat
• Chris Chaffee
• Robin Ficker
• Lorie R. Friend
• Larry Hogan
• John A. Myrick
• Laban Y. Seyoum

Libertarian

• Mike Scott (Nominated by party to appear in the General Election only)

Other

• Nancy Wallace (Seeking the nomination to appear in the General Election only)

Unaffiliated

• Emmanuel O. Osuchukwu (Candidacy for General Election only)

U.S. House of Representatives

Howard County voters will help decide the race in Congressional District 3 as John Sarbanes (D) is not seeking a 10th term. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms. There are no term limits. Voters can check their Congressional district at this link.

President

The presidential election likely will feature a rematch between current President Joe Biden (D) and former President Donald Trump (R) with a few others throwing their hat into the ring. They are both seeking their second and final four-year term.

Democrats

• Joe Biden (Incumbent)
• Marianne Williamson
• Dean Phillips

Republicans

• Donald J. Trump (Former president)
• Nikki Haley

Third Party

• Robert F Kennedy Jr.
• Cornel West
• Jill Stein

Jacob Baumgart contributed to this story.