Laura Hussey, POLI, on Voting Trends Leading to Election Day

In an article published October 22 in the Herald-Mail, Laura Hussey, an associate professor of Political Science, commented on Maryland voter turnout trends heading into Election Day on November 4.  Hussey said she doesn't expect a sudden uptick in voters turning out for the election next month.  She said that residents pay less attention to elections in an "off-election" year.

"Residents are not saturated with political information as you would in a presidential election year," Hussey said.  "Voters are less engaged."

On October 22, the Baltimore Sun published an article about Baltimore County campaign signs and how some are set up in a way to display bipartisanship.  Hussey was quoted in the article and discussed Democrat Tom Quirk's campaign signs being placed near Republican Joseph Hooe's.  Quirk is running for re-election as 1st District County Councilman, and Hooe is running for state delegate in District 12.  Hussey said it's not unusual for candidates to tout their work across party lines.

"It may influence voters' perceptions of a candidate's character traits, and these traits are a factor in some voters' choices," Hussey said.  "Most people...seem to prefer collaborative over combative personalities."