The Maryland Board of Elections website has the 2024 Primary Election day listed as April 23, 2024.
That also happens to be the first full day of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Both Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski have written letters to the General Assembly leadership asking the legislature to move the date of the election.
"As Mayor, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that all members of our community are able to participate in our democratic process without obstacles or barriers," wrote Scott.
"As a major Jewish holiday," writes Olszewski, "we know that Jewish residents in Baltimore County and across the state will be observing the holiday on that day, which would preclude them from voting under Jewish law."
The full letters can be viewed below:
2.23.23 Baltimore County 2024 Primary Date Letter on Scribd
Baltimore City Delegates Dalya Attar and Sandy Rosenberg also sent a letter, this one to the Maryland Board of Elections, noting that they plan to file a bill to change the date "to avoid a conflict with this major Jewish holiday."
See the full letter below:
Letter to BOE Re Passover Holiday - Election Day on Scribd
Baltimore County Senator Shelly Hettleman tells WMAR-2 News she's working with Delegate Attar on the legislation and has a companion bill being drafted on the Senate side.
That bill - HB1279 was filed as of Saturday evening.
"Passover is an important holiday where there are restrictions on what observant Jews can do and they cannot vote," says Shettleman. "We believe it's really important to recognize those limits that would be placed on an important part of the community."
Senator Cheryl Kagan of Montgomery County said, "This is an unfortunate oversight and the legislature is working on emergency legislation to correct this."
On Monday morning, with the bill not yet on the schedule to be introduced in the House, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones released the following joint statement:
"As State leaders and as legislators, we have been intentional in our effort to pass election laws and create policies that remove barriers to voting. A primary election date that unintentionally coincides with the Passover holiday would prevent thousands of Marylanders from engaging in their fundamental right to vote. We will work with the State Board of Elections and local election officials to find a more appropriate date."
As the schedule currently stands, early voting would take place on Thursday, April 11 through Thursday, April 18.
