THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT WHETHER YOU ARE AN EARLY VOTER A MAIL-IN VOTER OR ELECTION DAY VOTER WE WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED FOR THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS Dr.

JAMES CAMPBELL PEDIATRIC DISEASE SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND'S SCHOOL FOR MEDICINE.

HATE TO BREAK IT TO EVERYBODY, BUT WINTER IS ON THE WAY AND COLD AND FLU SEASON, WHAT SHOULD WE START THINKING ABOUT NOW?

>> YEAH, THANKS JEFF.

THIS IS THE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CHILDREN AGAINST ALL OF THE WINTERTIME ILLNESSES WE SEE, ESPECIALLY THE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST RESPIRATORY VIRUS, AGAINST INFLUENZA, AGAINST COVID-19.

GET IN TOUCH ABOUT YOUR YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER YOUR PEDIATRICIANS TO SEE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE VACCINES WILL BE IMPORTANT NOW IS THE TIME TO START LINING THOSE THINGS UP.

>> Jeff: TELL ME MORE ABOUT RSV.

PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF COURSE OF COVID AND THE FLU.

GENERAL PUBLIC [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] ESPECIALLY IN THE PEDIATRIC SETTING, OR THE GERIATRIC SETTING IT'S SIGNIFICANT?

>> DEFINITELY NOT LESS IMPORTANT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS AS MUCH IN THE PAST BUT NOT LESS IMPORTANT.

BEING A PEDIATRICIAN WE ARE USED TO DEALING WITH IT STANDS FOR RESPIRATORY VIRUS EVERY WINTERTIME.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF HOSPITALIZATION IN CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF ONE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE A WAY TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH IMMUNIZATION OR VACCINE FOR DECADES.

AND FINALLY THREE YEARS AGO, THOSE DISCOVERIES CAME THROUGH AND WERE LICENSED.

SO WE NOW HAVE A PRODUCT THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO NEWBORNS OR BABIES JUST ABOUT TO ENTER THE RSV SEASON MEANING THE FALL AND THE WINTER.

THAT IS OVER 90% PROTECTIVE AGAINST THAT HOSPITALIZATION.

AND WE HAVE VACCINES NOW FOR OLDER PEOPLE EITHER THOSE AS YOU SAID, WHO ARE ON THE OTHER END OF THE AGE SPECTRUM WHO BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE THEY ARE AT RISK.

OR FOR THE YOUNGER ADULTS WHO HAVE UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHERE RSV PUTS THEM IN THE HOSPITAL OR MAKES THEM SICK.

LOTS OF EXCITING NEW PRODUCTS AND GREAT PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE BY USING THEM.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY WATCHING ISN'T ON EITHER OF THE EDGES OF THE AGE SPECTRUM IS IT STILL SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT?

AND PART TWO OF THAT, ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> MOST PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE SO IF YOU'RE OLDER THAN A YEAR OR TWO OLD AND YOUNGER THAN IN YOUR 60s OR 70s, YOU WILL GET RSV MULTIPLE WINTERS IN YOUR LIFE AND FOR MANY PEOPLE IT'S ALMOST EVERY WINTER BUT IT CAUSES FOR MOST PEOPLE WITHOUT UNDERLYING PROBLEMS IT CAUSES A COLD.

AND SO THAT'S WHY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AGES IF THEY DON'T HAVE UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED THAT THEY GET THE VACCINE IT IS NOT NECESSARY REALLY.

IN TERMS OF SIDE EFFECTS FOR THE BABIES THAT WE'RE GIVING THIS IMMUNIZATION TO, THEY TOLERATE IT QUITE WELL IT'S WHAT WE CALL A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY, THE WAY A VACCINE WORKS IS WE GIVE A PART OF A GERM TO YOUR BODY AND THEN WE ASK YOUR BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM TO MAKE THE PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES.

WHAT THIS IMMUNIZATION IS, IS IT'S PREFORMED PROTECTIVE ANTY BODY.

IT DOESN'T -- YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE TO DO ANY WORK.

THE BABIES TOLERATE IT WELL, OTHER THAN THE PAIN OF THE INJECTION FEW SIDE EFFECTS.

>> Jeff: DOES IT MEAN OLDER FOLKS IT'S LIKE A FLU SHOT AND YOU NEED TO GET IT EVERY YEAR?

>> IT'S SIMILAR TO A FLU SHOT.

BUT IT'S NOT GIVEN TO THEM EVERY YEAR.

ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THEY ARE COVERED IN THE FUTURE MAYBE WE'LL HAVE MULTIPLE SEASONAL VACCINES FOR RSV FOR OLDER PEOPLE THEY GET THE SINGLE SHOT AND IN THE FUTURE WE WILL HAVE MULTIPLE SHOTS.

COVID YOU NEED EVERY YEAR AND FLU YOU NEED EVERY YEAR.

RSV JUST ONCE.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU THINK OF OTHER WAYS OF REDUCING RISK?

OTHER THAN JUST LIKE STAYING HOME, NEVER SHAKING HANDS WITH ANYBODY, WEARING A MASK 24/7 WHAT A REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS AND MAYBE THINK ABOUT IT IN THE PEDIATRIC SENTENCE?

>> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THAT THE MAIN WAY MOST OF THESE VIRUSES ARE PASSED PERSON TO PERSON, IS BY CLOSE CONTACT.

SO IT'S THROUGH THE SECRETIONS THAT COME WHEN YOU SNEEZE OR WHEN YOU COUGH AND ESPECIALLY WHAT HAPPENS ON YOUR HANDS.

IF THOSE VIRUSES GET ON YOUR HANDS AND YOUR HANDS WILL TOUCH YOUR EYES YOUR NOSE, THAT IS HOW THEY GET INTO PEOPLE'S BODIES.

NOT THROUGH THE AIR.

SO IT'S CLOSE CONTACT.

IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT CLOSE CONTACT IS THE WAY THAT THEY WILL GET THE VIRUSES, THEN YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THE THINGS WOULD BE TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

I LIKE TO SAY THINGS LIKE IF YOUR KIDS IF ONE CHILD IS A SOCCER GOALIE ON ONE END OF THE FIELD AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE GOALIE ON THE OTHER END IF THEY HAVE FLU, RSV OR COVID, THE OTHER GOALIE IS HOT GOING TO GET IT.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO GET IT?

WHEN THEY ARE EATING SNACKS AND SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF THE GAME.

THEY WILL GET IT IF THEY INTERACT CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

SO THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS IN YOUR FAMILIES IN YOUR SCHOOLS, IN YOUR DAYCARES, THAT'S THE WAY THAT THESE VIRUSES ARE PASSED.

HAND WASHING IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO HAND WASHING OR USING ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZERS NUMBER ONE WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

>> Jeff: THERE'S STILL NO HAND SANITIZER FOR THE NORO VIRUS NOR A SHOT THAT IS ALL ABOUT HAND WASHING?

>> NORO VIRUS CAUSES VOMITING AND DIARRHEA AND THERE IS A VACCINE THAT IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT HAS ONLY BEEN TESTED IN ADULTS BUT LOOKS PROMISING BUT THERE'S NONE YET LICENSED AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

BUT, YES, HAND WASHING, IS THE WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST NORO VIRUS.

THE VIRUS COMES OUT IN THE STOOL AND IN THE VOMIT.

AND SO TINY BITS OF IT IT ONLY TAKES A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE VIRUS FOR THE NEXT PERSON TO GET INFECTED AND IT'S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS ONCE IT GETS INTO THE FAMILY EVERYBODY FROM THE FAMILY GETS SICK.

>> Jeff: GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS MAYBE ACROSS THE AGE SPECTRUM.

IT'S IN THE NEWS NOW BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS OUT WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON WHAT THE ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS LIKES.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO?

>> MY BIGGEST WORRY IN THIS MY FIELD IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE IS THAT THE CONFUSION AND THE CHAOS THAT IS GOING ON IS GOING TO LEAD TO COMPLACENCY.

THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, ONE GROUP RECOMMENDS THIS AND ANOTHER RECOMMENDS THIS, IF THEY CAN'T DECIDE, THEN HOW AM I TO DECIDE FOR MY FAMILY.

WHAT I RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING MY FAMILY, IS TALK TO THEIR PROVIDERS.

BECAUSE THEIR PROVIDERS WHETHER THAT'S THEIR PEDIATRICIAN, INTERNNIST WHOEVER CARES FOR YOU, THEY WILL HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND THEY WILL FOLLOW THE FACTS AND NOT POLITICIZED THEY ARE DOING IT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND THEIR HEALTH.

I WORK TOGETHER WITH THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, PEDIATRICIANS WHO HELP EACH OTHER TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT IS RIGHT FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ALL INFECTION, ALL ILLNESSES IN CHILDREN BUT ESPECIALLY INFECTIONS.

WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND HELP PEDIATRICIANS AND FAMILIES TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR CHILDREN.

IF YOU ARE A PARENT AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR KID, ASK YOUR PEDIATRIC PROVIDER.

>> Jeff: WHEN IT GETS CONFUSING SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO JUST DEFAULT TO INACTION.

THE OTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON THIS IS WHEN PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THE GROCERY STORE OR THE PHARMACEUTICALSY, AND THERE'S SIGNS TRYING TO GET YOU TO GET THIS VACCINE OR THAT VACCINE, AND MAYBE THERE IS A REACTION TO THAT IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE 25067 PRESSURE, TOO GIMMICKKY.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> THAT IS WHAT I SAY YOUR BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS YOUR PROVIDER.

I THINK MOST OF US MAYBE ALL OF US, ARE MOST TRUSTED SOURCE OF MEDICAL INFORMATION IS THE PERSON THAT WE ENTRUST WITH THAT AND THAT IS OUR PROVIDER.

SO DON'T BE PRESSURED BY A PHARMACY.

DON'T BE PRESSURED BY SOCIAL MEDIA ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR OR YOUR CHILDREN'S DOCTOR.

AND THEY WILL HELP YOU TO TEASE OUT IS THIS A VACCINE THAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS OR THEY DON'T NEED, WHEN SHOULD THEY GET IT HOW IS IT BEST FOR THEM TO GET IT.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING IT AND THE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS.

IT'S TOO MUCH TO TRY TO SORT OUT YOURSELF.

SO I THINK TURN TO YOUR PROVIDERS THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: Dr.

JAMES CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS ABOUT TO SEND OUT A LOT OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

JOANING US NOW WITH WHAT VOTERS NEED TO KNOW IS JARED DEMARINIS THE MARYLAND DIRECTOR OF STATE ELECTIONS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: ELECTIONS DON'T WORK THE WAY THEY USED TO, I DON'T KNOW MAYBE 90% OF PEOPLE USED TO SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY AND VOTE.

NOW WE SORT OF HAVE THREE BUCKETS.

THE MAIL-IN VOTE.

WE HAVE THE EARLY VOTING.

AND WE HAVE ELECTION DAY.

ARE THEY IS IT ROUGHLY A THIRD A THIRD A THIRD?

>> THAT IS WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION IN 2004 IT WAS A -- 2024 IT WAS A THIRD A THIRD A THIRD.

WE WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD.

ESPECIALLY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE PRIMARY MAIL IS A LITTLE BIT A BIGGER PERCENTAGE BECAUSE IT'S DURING THE SUMMERTIME.

RIGHT NOW, ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY START TRANSMITTING 600,000 BALLOTS TO MARYLANDERS.

SO THEY WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR IT.

MARYLANDERS DOMESTICALLY WILL START SEEING THEM HIT THEIR MAILBOXES THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE TRY TO KEEP THEM INFORMED BECAUSE WE KNOW OF ALL THE ISSUES GOING ON WITH MAIL.

SO BASICALLY YOU ARE GOING TO GET A VOTER GETS AN E-MAIL OR A TEXT SAYING YOUR BALLOT IS ON THE WAY SO THAT THEY CAN START LOOKING FOR IT.

AND THEN ONCE THEY GET IT, THEY SHOULD VOTE IT AND THEN THEY CAN RETURN IT IN TWO WAYS.

THEY CAN PUT IT BACK INTO THE POSTAL SERVICE WHERE WE TRACK IT FROM WHEN THEY PUT IT IN THE MAILBOX AND TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND USE 300 DROP BOXES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

ONCE THE STATE BOARD THE LOCAL BOARD RECEIVES THE BALLOT, ANOTHER TEXT MESSAGE WILL BE SENT OR AN E-MAIL WILL BE SENT TO THE VOTER SAYING THE BALLOT HAS BASKETBALL RECEIVED SO THEY CAN BE ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE, IS GOING TO BE THE BALLOT HAS BEEN CANVASSED.

SO THEY KNOW IT'S BEEN COUNTED AT THAT POINT.

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS, A VOTER IS WELL AWARE OF WHAT IS BEING HAPPENING TO THEIR BALLOT.

>> Jeff: COUPLE OF THINGS PEOPLE MAYBE WORRIED ABOUT IN TERMS OF RETURNING THOSE BALLOTS.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS THE POSTAL SERVICE TO SOMEHOW SCREEN OUT ANY UNAUTHORIZED VOTERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS, BASICALLY.

AS WE ARE SPEAKING, I BELIEVE THE COURTS HAVE SHOT THAT DOWN.

THAT'S ONE PART.

THE OTHER PART IS THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT POSTMARKS BECAUSE THE POST OFFICE IT IS A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TO BE SURE IF YOU DROP IT OFF LATE IN THE AFTERNOON OF ELECTION DAY THAT IT'S GOING TO GET THE RATE POSTMARK TO BE COUNTED.

>> RIGHT.

THE FIRST PART FOR THE VOTER WITH THE LAWSUITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE PROCEDURES FOR MAIL-IN VOTING FOR A VOTER.

WE ARE MAILING THEM OUT TO THEM.

WE ARE SENDING THEM OUT VIA THE WEB FOR PRINTED HOPE BALLOTS AS WELL.

AND THEY CAN RETURN IT, LIKE I SAID, EITHER BACK THROUGH THE MAIL TO US OR USE THE DROP BOX.

THOSE LAWSUITS, YOU KNOW, MARYLAND IS A PART OF THOSE LAWSUITS.

AND WE WILL PROTECT THE IDENTITY AND INFORMATION OF MARYLAND RESIDENTS.

THE POST OFFICE THEIR MISSION SHOULD BE TO DELIVER MAIL AND NOT GET INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS.

LEAVE ELECTIONS TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND MYSELF, THE STATE ADMINISTRATOR.

AND WE ARE MAKING SURE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY OVERREACH INTO THAT AREA THERE.

AND MAYBE TRYING TO DISENFRANCHISE A MARYLANDER BY NOT DELIVERING MAIL BACK TO US OR TO THEM.

WE ARE BEING CONSCIOUS AND AWARE OF THE SITUATION.

AND WE'RE MONITORING IT.

MARYLANDERS CAN FEEL SAFE THAT IF THEY ARE USING THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS WAY OF VOTING, THAT THEY CAN USE BOTH METHODS TO RETURN IT TO US AND IF THEY FEEL ANY SORT OF APPREHENSION USE THE DROP BOXES.

AS FOR THE POSTMARK NOW FOR THE SECOND PART, THEY DID CHANGE WHEN THEY APPLY THE POSTMARK ON BALLOTS.

AND THIS IS JUST IN GENERAL BUT IT REALLY AFFECTS FOR BALLOTS.

BECAUSE THE BALLOT ITSELF HAS TO BE POSTMARKED ON OR BEHALF ELECTION DAY.

IF YOU HAVE YOUR BALLOT AND IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO NOVEMBER 3, PUTTING IT INTO A U.S.

POSTAL BOX, MIGHT BE DELAYED GETTING THAT POSTMARK WHICH COULD DISENFRANCHISE YOU.

I RECOMMEND STRONGLY TO USE A DROP BOX.

WITHIN TWO DAYS OF THE ELECTION USE A DROP BOX.

>> Jeff: ON THE SUBJECT OF DROP BOXES, HAVE WE HAD ANY ISSUES?

I BELIEVE IN OTHER STATES THERE HAVE BEEN ATTACKS ON DROP BOXES.

THEY DON'T LOOK A LITTLE BIT ROBUST NOT THE MOST ROBUST THING IN THE WORLD.

SHOULD A VOTER BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> SO TODAY, WE ARE ACTUALLY DEPLOYING THEM ALL.

IF YOU SAW A COUPLE DAYS AGO I MADE A POST BECAUSE WE PUT SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AT THE LOCATIONS.

ALL THE DROP BOX LOCATIONS ARE UNDER 24 HOUR SURVEILLANCE, VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.

AND THE DROP BOXES ONCE THEY GET DEPLOYED THEY GET PICKED UP BY ELECTION STAFF DAILY.

SO EVERYTHING IS BEING MONITORED BY ELECTION OFFICIALS.

AND MAKING SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO TRIES TO DO ANYTHING UNTOWARD ON THESE BOXES THE DAMAGE WILL BE LIMITED BUT WE'RE GOING TO PROSECUTE THOSE PEOPLE THAT TRY TO DISEN FRANCE FRANCHISE INDIVIDUALS.

YES, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S PHYSICAL SECURITY OF THOSE DROP BOXES AS WELL.

>> Jeff: SINCE I KNOW YOU MEMORIZED ALL OF THESE DATES WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO REQUEST A MAIL-IN BALLOT?

NOTING THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THEY ALWAYS WANT TO GET ONE OF THOSE AND THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER WORD BECAUSE YOU ARE RETURN IT IN WAYS OTHER THAN THE MAIL, WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?

>> OCTOBER 27TH.

AND THAT'S THE DEADLINE TO REQUEST IT TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU BY MAIL.

IF WE HAVE A SECOND ONE WHICH IS THE PRINTED HOME BALLOTS WHICH ARE WEB DELIVERED SO THOSE YOU CAN REQUEST UP UNTIL OCTOBER 30TH.

AND THEN YOU STILL HAVE TO PHYSICALLY DOWNLOAD THAT IS WHY THEY ARE CALLED PRINTED HOME BALLOTS.

YOU DON'T TRANSMIT IT BACK TO US VIA E-MAIL YOU HAVE TO PRINT IT AT HOME AND THEN YOU MARK THAT PRINTED BALLOT AND YOU HAVE TO RETURN IT THROUGH THE DROP BOX OR THE POSTAL SERVICE.

THOSE ARE THE TWO DEADLINES OCTOBER 27TH FORGET TO GO BY MAIL.

OR OCTOBER 30TH IF YOU WANT A PRINTED HOME BALLOT.

>> Jeff: NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT EARLY VOTING AND LOCATIONS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE MAYBE MORE LITTLE MORE DENSE IN THE MORE HIGHLY POPULATED AREAS.

WHAT SHOULD VOTERS KNOW ABOUT VOTING EARLY?

>> SO IT STARTS OCTOBER 22.

AND RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER 29TH.

7:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.

MAKE A PLAN.

THEY ARE -- YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ANYWHERE IN YOUR COUNTY FOR THOSE.

EVERYONE OF THOSE VOTE CENTERS HAS EVERY STYLE OF BALLOT FOR YOU.

SO JUST GO TO ANYONE IN YOUR COUNTY THAT IS THE KEY TO THIS.

YOU CAN'T GO TO -- IF YOU ARE A BALTIMORE CITY RESIDENT YOU CANNOT GO TO ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY ONE YOU HAVE TO STAY IN THE CITY AT THAT POINT.

BUT THEY RUN FROM 7:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.

THERE'S THROUGHOUT THE LOCATIONS, OUR WEBSITE AND OUR APP HAS THEM ALL.

ONE OF THE THINGS OUR GO VOTE MD APP IS GREAT FOR THIS, BECAUSE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE ALL THESE DATES THAT I MEMORIZED BUT YOU CAN HAVE THEM AT YOUR FINGERTIPS AND BASICALLY IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A VOTE CENTER, THE ADDRESSES ARE THERE.

YOU CAN HIT THE LOCATION, AND GOOGLE MAP WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO YOU IT.

>> Jeff: WE MAY SET A RECORD THIS YEAR FOR DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION FLYING AROUND.

I KNOW THE STATE ELECTIONS BOARD HAS LONG HAD A RUMOR CONTROL APPARATUS.

IF SOMEBODY HEARS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT MAYBE ON ELECTION DAY OR CLOSE TO IT, HOW DO THEY CHECK IT OUT?

>> THAT IS GREAT.

BECAUSE ONE, THEY CAN REPORT.

ONE OF THE THINGS NOW IS ALSO ABOUT THE REPORTING.

I THINK THAT MARYLANDERS NEED TO HELP US BATTLE MISS AND DISINFORMATION.

IF YOU SEE IT IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED BECAUSE YOUR FEED IS DIFFERENT THAN MY FEED WITH THE TARGETING, THAT IF THE APP IS RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN TAKE THE SNAPSHOT OF THE POST, THE TWEET OR WHATEVER AND THEN UPLOAD IT AND SEND IT TO US AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO VERIFY IT.

IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF QUESTIONS OR DOUBT, YOU GOT TO COME TO THE TRUSTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

BECAUSE WE WILL SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS NOT ONLY WILL WE TRAY TO CORRECT THE RECORD WITH YOU, AS THE VOTER, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY WRONG, OR TRYING TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WE PASSED A BILL SENATE BILL 141 WHICH ALLOWS MYSELF AS THE STATE ADMINISTRATOR THE ABILITY TO SEEK JUDICIAL REMEDY TO TAKE DOWN THOSE POSTS TRYING TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS, REGARDING TIME, PLACE AND MANNER, ELECTION RESULTS OR PROCESSES.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GAVE US TOOLS TO BATTLE THIS.

BECAUSE AT THE END, MISS AND DISINFORMATION, THE CIVIL PENALTIES IS NOT THEIR GOAL.

THEIR GOAL IS TO DISENFRANCHISE AND SOW DOUBT AND CONFUSION.

AT THIS POINT, THE REAL REMEDY IS TO REMOVE THOSE POSTS.

AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE TOOLS IN ORDER TO DO IT.

>> Jeff: AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO MARYLAND VOTERS WHO HEARING MOSTLY THE NATIONAL NEWS FLOW, MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR STATE ELECTIONS, WHO IS REGISTERED, DID THE MOTOR VOTER PROGRAM WINDUP AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERING PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR AT THAT TIME.

OTHER CONCERNS THAT THEY WILL BE HEARING BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY AND MAYBE BEYOND?

>> SO THEY CAN TAKE COMFORT THAT ONE WE FOLLOW FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS FOR THE ACCURACY I WOULD SAY CURRENCY OF OUR VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS.

SO WE MAKE SURE DEATH RECORDS, JURY NOTIFICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE WE MAKE SURE THEY GET UPDATED.

WE ARE A PART OF A MULTISTATE EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE STATE.

SO WE DO THAT AS WELL.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR ROLLS ARE AS ACCURATE AND AS CURRENT AS POSSIBLE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.

THE OTHER PARTS, TOO, I WAS GOING TO SAY THIS.

ALL THE MACHINES AND THE ACCURACY, WE DO THAT WITH WE DO AUDITS PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY.

WE'RE GOING TO START DOING TESTING THEN THEY GET SECURE THEN WE DO POST ELECTION AUDITS AS WELL WITH RISK LIMITING AUDITS AND SO ALL THIS IS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

WE WELCOME PEOPLE TO COME AND WATCH PAINT DRY WHILE WE DO THESE AUDITS.

>> Jeff: AND THE OPPOSITE OF WATCHING PAINT DRY BEING AN ELECTION JUDGE YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ELECTION WORKERS, JUDGES, PEOPLE INTERESTED SHOULD TALK TO THEIR LOCAL BOARDS, RIGHT?

>> OR GO ON-LINE OR DOWNLOAD THE APP AND FILL OUT THE APPLICATION RIGHT THERE.

COME TO THE STATE BOARD WEBSITE OR DO IT ON OUR NEW DEVELOPED APP.

I'M PUSHING THE APP AS YOU CAN SEE BECAUSE THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY FOR EVERYBODY TO GET INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU, JARED DEMARINIS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

YOU CAN SEE OUR PAST PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV ALSO ON OUR APP, THE FREE PBS APP DOWNLOAD THAT ONE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]