Letter to the Editor: How Early Voting Affects Schools

A Patch reader and Prince George's County Schools teacher wrote Patch to let us know how she felt about Maryland State Senator James C. Rosapepe's pledge to open more early voting sites next year. The letter is addressed to Rosapepe.

Dear Senator Rosapepe,

I read with great dismay about your intent to offer MORE early voting next year.  I am very curious to know if you are aware of the disastrous effects of early voting on the faculty, students and parents of Paint Branch Elementary School, which shares a parking lot with Paint Branch Community Center. If you aren't, please keep reading! On Thursday, the delivery truck that brings milk to the cafeteria could not complete the delivery because he couldn't get into the parking lot.

My sons had WATER to drink at lunch because there was no milk. On Friday when it was time to dismiss the students, the Teacher in Charge had to argue with police to remove the cones that were blocking the school buses from pulling into the bus loop. She was told that they "didn't care" about the students' departure.  The bus loops are designed to give students a protected space to enter the school buses safely, NOT for parking for election day vehicles.   

Also on Friday, my husband, who is on the faculty at Paint Branch, spent 10 minutes circling the parking lot to find a parking space. 

Those ten minutes could have been spent on student supervision/preparation for the school day, rather than having to aggressively assert his right to park at his place of employment. Further, when I arrived at the school to pick my family up (we share a car), it took me 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot due to illegal parking/double parking, and the general sense of entitlement demonstrated by the people who were there to vote. 

That 30 minutes cost me money as I was late picking up my daughter from her day care.  I was also not able to get to the bank before it closed. Ironically, there WAS a Sheriff's department car there.  Parked going the wrong way on the bus loop. Unattended. Why was this location chosen?  Why were no provisions made to ensure the faculty would have adequate parking before opening the rest of the lot to early voters? 

And more disturbingly, why was the "convenience" to early voters placed ABOVE the safety and dietary needs of elementary school aged children? Perhaps the MOST disturbing, though, was that those children were exposed to a tidal wave of political signage, chanting, and placards with pictures of aborted fetuses on them...without the benefit of an adult to explain what they are seeing. 

 There is so much about this situation that is upsetting, Senator Rosapepe.  And to think that in your OWN jurisdiction, you allowed this to happen?  And publicly say “Voters, Democrats as well as Republicans and Independents, want the opportunity to exercise their right to vote without unjustified delays” shows that you emphasize turnout over the ability of a school to function properly.  What priorities are you protecting? I encourage you, in your role on the Senate subcommittee for election law, to protect the rights of your constituents at Paint Branch Elementary School. 

To recognize that convenience shouldn't trump education. 

Dara Case

Parent, Paint Branch Elementary School

Teacher, Prince George's County Public Schools

Registered Voter of Prince George's County (and YES, I vote...and will be voting on Tuesday)