The Carroll County League of Women Voters will be hosting a series of candidate forums around the county in preparation for the June 24 primary election.
"We try very hard to provide information to citizens so they make informed decisions, and get to the polls and do their thing," sad Claudia Lewis, president of the league. "The league has two purposes, voter turnout and voter education.
"A lot of our commissioner district races are going to be in the primary," Lewis said. "There are very few Democrats running: It's not next fall that counts. We decided to get the information out now."
In the past, the league provided a printed guide that featured the candidates and their answers to a series of questions. Now, the guide is available online only, Lewis said, at VOTE411.org.
"It serves the same purpose," Lewis said, of the website. "As a citizen, they can log in, type in their address and all the candidates they are eligible to vote for will come up."
Members of the public are invited to attend the following forums to learn about the candidates and the issues facing the county.
Board of Commissioners
District 1: Taneytown Senior Center, 220 Roberts Mill Road, 7 p.m. April 15
District 2: North Carroll Senior Center, 2328 Hanover Pike, 7 p.m. April 8
District 3: Westminster Senior Center, 125 Stoner Ave., 7 p.m. April 10
District 4: Mount Airy Senior Center, 703 Ridge Ave., 7 p.m. April 14
District 5: South Carroll Senior Center, 5928 Mineral Hill Road, 7 p.m April 16
Board of Education
April 29: Community Media Center, 1301 Washington Road, Westminster, 7 p.m.
Sheriff and State's Attorney
May 1: Community Media Center, 1301 Washington Road, Westminster, 6:30 p.m.
District 5 State Delegates
May 8: Carroll Community College, 1601 Washington Road, Westminster, 7 p.m.
The online Voter's Guide Election Information will be available with the candidates' answers after April 25.
County residents are encouraged to submit questions as part of a live audience or prior to the forums through email and social media. Email questions prior to the forums to atelections@carrollmediacenter.org or via twitter at #carroll2014.