Unaffiliated Voters at the Polls, Too

Jenifer Kirin is an Independent or, in Maryland parlance, she is "unaffiliated." The state recognizes five parties: Constitution, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Republican.

Because of her lack of affiliation, Kirin cannot vote in most Maryland primaries, which are closed (only registered members of a party can vote in that party's primary). The Board of Education contest is non-partisan, however, and so she showed up at the Senior Center late Tuesday morning, with her 6-year-old daughter, to cast her votes for the four open seats.

She researched the candidates on the League of Women Voters website. "It was important for me to have a say in who is on the Board," she said, looking at her daughter, Katie, who wore an "I Voted" sticker. (Kirin assured Patch that Katie did not, in fact vote!)

"It's going to affect us for the next couple of years."

One of the issues that most interests Kirin, who works in the health care arena, is health education.

"I'm hoping to see good health education and health literacy in the schools," if the candidates she chose are elected.  "I'm most passionate about that." She declined to name the candidates she voted for.

And in general, she said, voting is important. "I like to vote and make an impression on my child. We had to come out and vote"