Holding Elections Amid a Pandemic

On a special bonus episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, David Lublin joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss both the practical and legal questions around running elections amid the COVID-19 public health crisis.David Lubin, a professor of government in the School of Public Affairs at American University and the former Mayor of the Town of Chevy Chase, is an expert on American campaigns and elections. Lublin is also the founder of the Seventh State, a blog covering Maryland policy and politics.As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Larry Hogan ordered the special general election to fill the late Rep. Elijah Cummings’s congressional seat in Maryland’s Seventh District be conducted via mail. Hogan also postponed Maryland’s presidential primary due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.As health officials warn that social distancing and other measures to contain the COVID-19 epidemic might be in place months, the Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) voted to ban any in-person voting for the special general election on April 28 and last week submitted a proposal to Governor Hogan that includes limited in-person voting for the June 2 presidential primary election.MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Music by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast.You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.Useful LinksPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: States Turn to Election Security Funds to Cover COVID-19 CostsPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: State Moves Forward with Plan to Conduct Presidential Primary Election Via MailThe Seventh State BlogFollow David Lublin on TwitterPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Previous Conduit Street Coverage: MACo Compiles List of Local Resources During COVID-19 ResponseFor up-to-date information and resources regarding coronavirus, including confirmed case counts and clinician guidance, visit http://health.maryland.gov/coronavirus.