Hey, HBCU family! We just got word that historically black Morgan State University was recently designated as a 2020 early voting and Election Day voting center. The black college will serve as one of only eight early voting sites and one of 24 Election Day voting locations in the city of Baltimore, according to a Morgan State press release.
From the MSU Newsroom:
As part of an effort to expand access to voting this fall, the Baltimore City Board of Elections (BOE) has designated Morgan State University’s Edward P. Hurt Gymnasium as an early voting and election day voting center. Beginning on Monday, Oct. 26, through Monday, Nov. 2, citizens registered to vote in Baltimore City can take advantage of early voting on Morgan’s campus in Northeast Baltimore. The Hurt Gymnasium will be one of only eight locations designated as an early voting site throughout the city. Additionally, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Morgan will serve as an official election day site along with 23 other city-wide locations. Throughout all of the dates, the Hurt Gymnasium will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Given the extreme importance of the upcoming election and what the outcome may mean to our community, our city, I can’t think of a more appropriate place to serve as a voting site, than at the National Treasure—Morgan State University,” said Morgan President David Wilson. “This University has always stood for what’s right in the face of tremendous challenges to the American democracy and the importance of this election cannot be understated. We can’t fathom the notion of the efforts underway to suppress the vote as we are seeing now and through our involvement in this democratic process, we look to ensure our place in being on the right side of history.”
Additionally, from Sept. 28-30, Morgan’s campus will also serve as a ballot drop box location, where people who request an absentee or mail-in ballot can choose to drop it off. The drop box will be located along the driveway at the front of the newly constructed Tyler Hall at the intersection of Cold Spring Lane and Hillen Road. An officer will be stationed at the drop box location to ensure its integrity.
While Morgan will serve as an official voting center, the Baltimore City Board of Elections will provide election judges and staff to conduct all election activities inside Hurt Gymnasium. Morgan’s election day planning committee is working with the BOE to post signage to assist prospective voters and will also assist in recruiting election judges.
All election judges and team staffers will be required to utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied by the BOE. To further ensure the safety of in-person voting, voters will be required to remain six feet apart and wear a mask. Please be advised that in order to maintain proper distancing, the number of voters permitted inside Hurt Gymnasium at one time may be limited and may potentially result in lines and longer wait times.
The deadline to register to vote in Maryland is Oct. 13.
Are you registered to vote this upcoming election year? Find out and click here for more information. Go vote!
