Maryland primary now in snowiest week
As Maryland has moved its presidential primary elections earlier and earlier in the year in futile bids to remain relevant, it has also been moving them deeper into our high-risk snow season.
Back in 1972, all the presidential candidates were campaigning in Maryland in May. That's why George Wallace was in Laurel on that balmy spring day when he was shot down in an assassination attempt.
In 1988, the primary was moved to Super Tuesday, in early March. But as other states advanced their primaries, Maryland's visibility faded again. In 1992, the date was shifted a week earlier. And Martin O'Malley last year tried the tactic once again when he orchestrated another advance to the second Tuesday in February - Feb. 12 this year.
Well, guess what? That's backed the primary deep into snow season in Maryland. Oh it won't always snow during the second week in February around these parts. But when it does, it can be a whopper. And Marylanders don't deal with heavy snow like they do in Iowa or New Hampshire. Maryland stops moving, often for days.
As I've noted here before, that single week between Feb. 11 and Feb. 19 has seen five of the biggest 10 snowfalls on record for Baltimore, and six of the top 10 for Washington, going back well into the 19th century. It's happened three times in recent memory: in 1979, 1983 and 2003. You can look it up here.
None of those years was a presidential election year. But what would happen if - or, better put - what will happen when one of these giant nor'easters buries the state in 15 or 25 inches of snow just as Marylanders are preparing to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice? Do you think Baltimore's election officials will get the polls open if it's snowing? How many voters will make it?
There's a price to be paid for this sort of scrambling for attention. What we really need is a thorough overhaul of the presidential primary system. Make it shorter, and thereby less costly, and allow voters in every state have a meaningful voice in the selection of party candidates. But that's for another blog.
Here's an Associated Press story on the issue:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s earliest-ever presidential primaries next month could have a downside lawmakers can see right outside their windows — heavy snow.
State elections chief Linda Lamone tells lawmakers that the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and local road officials are on standby to help voters make it to polling places on February 12, when Maryland holds its primaries.
Lamone says she doesn’t think a Maryland election has ever been canceled for winter weather — but she says a big snow next month could depress the predicted 30 percent turnout.
