By Julia Rosier
The University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center Pavilion has been chosen to operate as an advanced polling center for this year’s election. The University of Maryland Athletics Department organized and created the “VoTERP” initiative, a student-athlete campaign that provides resources about voting.
“It kind of all sort of dovetailed into how can we, as a community partner with Prince George’s County, how can we kind of be more of a presence,” Laurie Walborn, program management specialist for the athletic department said.
The Xfinity Center will be one of 11 advanced polling locations in Prince George’s County and will be operating from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, according to Walborn.
Walborn, also a member of the Voter Registration Committee, said that the initiative began over the summer. The department reached out to Prince George’s County, and there was interest in using the Xfinity Center.
“We were made aware that other professional teams and other universities were possibly offering their arenas as large venues in hopes of offering a larger venue to voters,” Walborn said.
Sophomore communications major Brooke Ivler said she will be voting at the Xfinity Center this Election Day after seeing advertisements that it will be available as a polling location.
“I think it is important to vote because it is a way to exercise your right. The only way to have a say in the future of the country is to vote,” Ivler said. “Voting is important because you vote for the person who has the same ideas as you who will make the biggest and best impact for the future.”
Walborn said that a ballot box is located in Lot 4B of the Xfinity Center for ballot drop-off. There will be a team of volunteers practicing all social distancing guidelines to further assist voters, according to Walborn.
Junior information systems major Cole Nachman said he was unaware that the Xfinity Center will be used as a polling center and will not be voting there.
“I do think that the athletic department and University should have advertised it more,” Nachman said. “I would have likely voted there if I knew that was an option.”
Other early voting locations in Prince George’s County are the Show Place Arena, Bowie Gymnasium, Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Center, Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Complex, Laurel High School, Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex, Suitland Community Park School Center, Accokeek VFD Training and Activity Center, DuVal High School and Kentland Community Center, according to the County’s website.
Featured photo courtesy of user Tomf688 from Wikimedia Commons.
