City Clerk Ensures Election Integrity Amid Questions on Adam Van Grack’s Voting Record
In response to my previous blog post about the potential errors in the database of “returned ballots” for Rockville in 2019 (in other words, who voted in the 2019 Rockville election), the Rockville City Clerk provided the explanation below. Let’s be clear this is a database for the 2019 election, not 2023. I’ve worked with many City Clerks over the years and Rockville’s City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Sara Taylor-Ferrell is among the best I know. She points out Council candidate Adam Van Grack could have voted in 2019 (and he told me he’s a regular voter and that he voted in 2019, so I’m accepting his word) but not in Rockville because “his residential address on his voter registration was in Gaithersburg from 2015-2021.” She also points out that Montgomery County accidentally left out a portion of Rockville when they provided the City of Rockville a copy of the database. It was immediately corrected and we should be in good shape for the November 2023 election—but I’m guessing the City Clerk will doublecheck the database from now on.
I want to clarify information provided to you from Mr. Van Grack and posted on your blog of his voting record.
The Clerk’s office receives the voter database from the State of Maryland via the Montgomery County Board of Elections, as no local municipality has control of the State of Maryland registration database.
Candidates and interested parties can request a copy of the voter database that is provided to the City by Montgomery County Board of Elections. In early June we received a copy of the voter database with voters’ history, however at that time it was brought to my attention by Mr. Van Grack that one Rockville City voter district was omitted.
District 10 was omitted due to redistricting last year, part of Rockville’s District 10 area was split between Gaithersburg and the City of Rockville. When updating the street file tables in the Maryland State of Maryland registration system (the street file indicates the county and municipal district voting locations of a voter) Rockville’s District 10 was inadvertently omitted from some the data. This was corrected by Montgomery County within 24 hours and the updated voter database was sent to all the candidates and interested parties notifying them of the missing data.
According to the voted 2019 City of Rockville election database provided by the State of Maryland, Mr. Van Grack could not have voted in the 2019 City of Rockville municipal election because his residential address on his voter registration was in Gaithersburg from 2015-2021.
Mr. Van Grack requested an update to his current address in Rockville on April 29, 2021. Mr. Van Grack also requested an Absentee Ballot for the 2020 Gubernatorial election using his Gaithersburg address.
I appreciate that Mr. Van Grack noticed that District 10 was omitted in the June requested data, however Mr. Van Grack is in District 8 and not 10 for voting in the 2023 Rockville municipal election.
The City Clerk takes the election process seriously and ensures the voters receive accurate information, as we do not want misinformation circulated out to the voters that would question the integrity of the election process.
Per the previous email from Judy [in the City Clerk’s office], this information is public, and you can request additional information on what has been provided to you from the State of Maryland at sbe@maryland.gov.
Parental and LGBTQ+ Rights Advocates Face Off at Confused Moms for Liberty Rally in Rockville
At today’s Moms for Liberty rally held at the Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education meeting in Rockville, a diverse group of attendees gathered to express their views. Moms for Liberty oppose MCPS curriculum and the adoption of books that present diverse perspectives on personal identity and relationships. Reporters observed that many anti-rally participants appeared to be from local mosques, dressed in Muslim attire, while the pro-rally crowd sported rainbow-themed clothing and accessories, signifying their support for LGBTQ+ rights.
The atmosphere remained calm until around 10:30 am when music from “Footloose” started playing, prompting the pro-rally side to dance and enjoy themselves. Chants from both sides filled the air, with the Moms for Liberty participants calling for “Religious Freedom” and “Protect Our Children,” while the anti-rally side responded with “Love Is Love” and “Protect All Children.” As the event progressed, the anti-rally side appeared to adopt tactics from the pro-rally group, initiating their own chants.
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring joined the anti-rally side, displaying a large banner. Conversations between the two sides took place, highlighting the varying perspectives on sex education and parents’ rights. As the rally continued, some attendees found the situation increasingly peculiar, with both sides chanting similar messages. The event showcased the diverse opinions present within the community and the importance of open dialogue—and that the arguments are incredibly confusing.
Max for Rockville 