Montgomery News

GAITHERSBURG, Md. Gaithersburg residents will cast their ballots for three City Council Members in November of 2023. All Council Members serve at-large. The terms of office for Council Members Neil Harris, Ryan Spiegel, and Robert Wu expire in November. The Council Members elected in 2023 will each serve a four-year term.

Candidate Packets for this election cycle will be released on May 11. The packets will be available online here or can be picked up at City Hall, 31 South Summit Avenue. Candidates must file a petition for candidacy with the Gaithersburg Board of Supervisors of Elections via the Office of the City Attorney. The petition must be signed by at least 100 City residents who are registered voters, with both electronic and paper versions of the petition signatures available.

Petitions and associated documents must be submitted electronically or returned to the Office of the City Attorney by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2023. After petitions for candidacy have been certified by the Gaithersburg Board of Supervisors of Elections, candidate names will be placed on the ballot. Note that residency and other restrictions apply. Candidates will be required to attend one of two training sessions, and campaign financial reporting is required throughout the campaign. The Candidate Packet contains full details.

This year the City of Gaithersburg will use a hybrid process that allows for mail-in or in-person voting. Starting September 8, all registered voters will begin receiving an application in the mail, inviting them to apply for a mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots can also be requested online. Voters with approved applications will receive their mail-in ballot starting on October 6. The ballots can be returned by mail or placed in any of seven secure ballot boxes that will be located throughout the City. Ballots must be postmarked or placed in the boxes by 8 p.m. on November 7.

Those choosing to vote in person must do so at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, the only polling place available during this election. Early Voting will take place at the Activity Center on Sunday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The polling place will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Same-day voter registration is available for those choosing to vote in person. City residents who are registered to vote in Montgomery County are automatically registered to vote in City of Gaithersburg elections. Those registering during Early Voting or on Election Day will be asked to show an approved form of identification and will cast a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will be counted upon verification of the individual’s eligibility to vote. For information on voter eligibility contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections here or call 240-777-VOTE (8683).

For more information on City of Gaithersburg elections visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov or contact the Elections Clerk, Lauren Klingler, at 240-805-1010 or cityelections@gaithersburgmd.gov.

Original source can be found here.