Voting Drop Boxes Are Coming
Montgomery County's drop boxes, where voters can bring their filled-out ballots, are due to be set up at 39 locations beginning September 28. The 400-pound, six-foot tamper-resistant structures, which will be placed outside public high schools, libraries and community centers, will be available 24 hours a day and guarded by surveillance cameras, in-person security or both.
Early voting is October 26-November 2. At least twice daily, bipartisan teams of election workers will open each drop box, inspect the "tamper" tapes and seals to ensure the box wasn't prematurely opened, collect the ballots and place new seals for the next collection cycle. The election workers then will transport the collected ballots to the county's election office.
You can return your ballot by mail or you can drop off your completed, voted ballot at a drop box location in Montgomery County. Place your completed ballot in the return envelope, sign the oath on the envelope, seal the return envelope and take it to a drop off box in the county. Ballot drop off boxes will be delivered at different times. The drop boxes will be available through Tuesday, November 3rd. Your ballot must be dropped off by 8 pm on Tuesday, November 3rd. Please make sure your oath is signed on the return envelope or the ballot will not count. Ballot drop off boxes are monitored and secured by trusted election officials.
Visit the Montgomery County Board of Elections website for future drop box locations.
Paying Property Taxes Online
The Montgomery County Department of Finance is encouraging property-owners to pay their tax bills online this year because of the COVID-19 health crisis, which required closing the county's walk-up cashier's window to the public.
The easiest and safest way to pay your property tax bill is online by using an electronic check, which is fee-free, or by credit or debit card, which incurs a convenience fee levied by the payment processing company.
The other options are to send your payment via the U.S. Postal Service or to call the Montgomery County Property Tax Payment Line at 240-777-8898 (24/7) and pay with a credit card or debit card (incurs a convenience fee).
https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/realpropertytax/default.aspx.
If you have additional questions, call 311, available 7 am-7 pm, Monday-Friday.
Resources To Help Residents Prevent Suicide
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. During this time of COVID-19, many people are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression. Between July 1 and August 15, nearly 400 Montgomery County residents went to hospital emergency rooms due to self-injury or suicidal thoughts.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, or call the county's 24-hour crisis center at 240-777-4000. County services are provided by telephone or in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville (no appointment needed).
A county mobile crisis team provides emergency crisis evaluations for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. There are four crisis beds available as an alternative to hospitalization for those who are uninsured or are insured within the public mental health system.
Car Free Day 2020
Car Free Day 2020, Sept. 22, is a worldwide event that encourages other ways of travel, such as biking, walking, running, carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, and teleworking, to help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.
Everyone who takes the online pledge will be entered into a raffle to win a prize. See prizes here.