Glen Burnie election judges working at polling sites at Corkran Middle School and Glen Burnie High School reported that the morning in-person polling traffic had been moderate but steady.
By noon, fewer than 200 residents had come to Glen Burnie High School to cast their ballot, with a close-to-even split between registered Democrats and Republicans.
At the Corkran Middle School polling site, Glen Burnie resident Dan Clark said he voted for legalizing recreational marijuana use in Maryland, hoping that the state will benefit economically if legalization passes.
“It’s time,” he said. “It’s long overdue. The state can profit from it.”
Naomi Murmann, also from Glen Burnie, was concerned about who would be the next state
representatives. She has been tuning in to media coverage of the races to help inform her decision.
“I want to see who I feel are the right people getting into office,” she said. “I try to pay attention to the different things I hear them say on radio and TV.”
Murman added that she is disheartened by the nation’s current trajectory.
“It’s very depressing,” she said. “I’m hoping everything turns around soon.”
Glen Burnie resident Vito Ferrara brought his mom to the middle school to vote and drove back to vote himself. Ferrara said he is concerned about the economy.
“They’re (his parents) paying so much more for groceries right now, so much more for gas. The economy–‘It’s the economy stupid’–it can all be alleviated. Open up some more gas drilling. Open up some more fracking.”
Ferrara hopes voters will send another Republican to the governor’s office.
“Locally, I think overall Larry Hogan was really good,” he said. “I don’t know much about Dan Cox, but he’s the only shot we’ve got to get in as Republicans. It is what it is.”
Ferrara supports medical use of marijuana, but is opposed to legalizing it for recreational use.
“I’m not in favor in legalizing any cannabis, (but) it’s OK for medical,” he said. “It does wonders for my older aunt. She gets back pain relief from the gummy bears she takes. I’m in support of medical use only.”
Joyce Hicks, 76, originally from Texas and now a Glen Burnie resident, went to vote at the polling site at Glen Burnie High School. Immigration and economic issues, like the cost of gas and food, brought her to the polls.
“I don’t like the way the country’s headed,” Hicks said. “I’ve lived in Europe and I don’t like socialism.”
Hicks said she likes Glen Burnie, but is concerned about crime.
“I have to worry about locking the house up and everything,” she said. “Where I grew up you never had to do that. Of course, that was the old days.”
Hicks generally opposes mail-in voting, with some exceptions.
“I don’t think they should have mail-in voting except for military, disabled people or you’re not at home for some reason.”
