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What's Up with Your Vote? (PF and Zoom)

LWVCC Nonpartisan Forum

Dive deep into the world of voting with a panel of experts who will guide you through our current election process from the nuts and bolts of voting to complex debates around the Electoral College vs. the Popular Vote, and open or closed primary systems. Whether you're unaffiliated or not sure how primaries work, this event is for you!

Do you worry about the integrity of our Voting system?  Do you think changes should be made in how voting works?  This forum, sponsored by the Laague of Women Voters, is for voters, students and anyone with an interest in government and civics.

Speakers

	Ralph Watkins, LWV	Ralph Watkins is Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, and also chairs its Making Democracy Work Committee.   He previously served as Vice President for Voters Service for the League of Women Voters of Maryland, where he supported the Voters Service activities of the League (primarily VOTE411) from 2014 to 2019.  Ralph has participated in many League studies, including the 2017 study of Maryland’s system of primary elections.  He continues to assist voter education efforts of the Leagues throughout Maryland.  He is a retired government attorney, having worked for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for 23 years.
	Todd Eberly, Professor, St. Mary's College	Todd Eberly, Ph.D., is a professor of Political Science and coordinator of Public Policy Studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland. He specializes in American health and welfare policy, with a focus on the Great Society. His books include American Government and Popular Discontent (2013) and The Rise of Ideology in America (2015) He is an advisor to Project Vote Smart and his commentaries have been featured in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, and Public Radio/Television. He has served as an expert witness in cases challenging gerrymandered Congressional districts and has consulted with Third Way.  Named one of the most influential voices in Maryland politics by Campaigns and Elections magazine, he was honored with the Faculty Student Life Award by the St. Mary's College SGA in 2010.
	Jared DeMarinis, State Administrator of Elections	In September, 2023, Jared DeMarinis became Maryland’s State Administrator of Elections after unanimous selection by the bipartisan State Board of Elections. He previously served as the Director of Candidacy and Campaign Finance taking a proactive approach to election administration in campaign finance making Maryland a model state for the use of new technologies by campaigns, campaign disclosure and enforcement. Jared has served as an election observer in various countries such as Estonia, North Macedonia, and Armenia and has been published in New York Times for a piece on texting campaign contributions, written a book on the history of the Electoral College in Maryland and presented at national conferences on important election issues including deep fakes, regulating online campaign ads, and enforcement of campaign finance laws.  He has a law degree from Rutgers School of Law- Newark and a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University.
	Gail Hatfield, Director, Calvert County Board of Elections	Gail Hatfield has been an Elections Administrator with almost 40 years of experience at the Calvert County Election Board where she is devoted to improving the voting experience in Calvert County. Her focus is to plan, organize, and direct administrative actions needed to carry out county, state, and federal elections plus oversee the department. Since 2002, she has maintained her status as a Certified Elections and Registration Administrator through The Election Center. Gail has served two terms as President of MAEO (Maryland Association of Election Officials).  In 2008, Gail received the “Award of Excellence” from The League of Women Voters as well as the “Election Official of the Year” from the Maryland Association of Election Officials (MAEO). Under her leadership, the Election Board staff received the Calvert County Team Excellence Award in 2003, 2005 and again in 2016.  She holds a Bachelor degree from UMD in Business Management
	Kristen Scott, Deputy Elections Administrator	Kristen Scott is currently the Deputy Elections Administrator at the Calvert County Election Board. She coordinates election judge training among other duties. She started at the Election Board in September 2005 as an Election Registrar serving the voters of Calvert County. Kristen received her bachelor’s degree in public administration and was certified as an elections/registration administrator in 2011

For accessibility accommodations, please contact us at least 2 weeks prior to the event at 410-535-0291. 

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