The increasing concern regarding the coronavirus or COVID-19 has spilled over onto the proceedings of the elections. Because of the pandemic, the state of Maryland has decided to postpone in-person primary voting.
Politico reports that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that he was going to postpone the state’s primary voting which was originally scheduled for the latter part of April, until June 2nd. This was due to the concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, with the preventative measures involving steering clear from crowded places or large gatherings. This would make Maryland the fifth state to postpone their primaries, following Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, and Ohio, whose primary voting was set for March 17th but was then postponed until June as well.
At a press conference, Hogan explained that continuing with the primary in the midst of the coronavirus crisis could endanger the health and safety of the people from the state. “I am directing the state board of elections to develop a comprehensive plan by April 3 to conduct the primary election in a way that protects public health and preserves the integrity of the Democratic process in our state.”
Although the primary has been rescheduled to June 2nd for Maryland, they will still continue with one election on April 28th, for the position of Representative for the 7th Congressional District. The election to fill in the seat of the late congressman Elijah Cummings will be done through mail-in voting, making it the first federal election to have such a method of voting due to the coronavirus.
The last-minute rescheduling of Ohio’s primary voting was announced late at night by Governor Mike DeWine. The decision was since approved by the Supreme Court, and thus postponing the state’s in-person voting until June as a response to the coronavirus. DeWine’s administration released a statement announcing the change. “During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus,” said DeWine.
Ohio is the only state to postpone its primary voting from this week’s lineup. The primaries in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois will continue as planned.