Latest News from Senator Rosapepe's Office June 2026

June 23 is the 2026 primary election — with mail-in and early voting before then.

Beltsville has lots of needs, from keeping the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department open and fixing local streets to improving public safety, services for seniors, and good schools. 

Your most important opportunity to express your priorities and concerns is in the elections — first in the June 23 primary and then in the November election.

Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, I urge you to vote in the primary. Unfortunately, if you’re an independent, you can’t vote in the primaries. That’s something I’ve worked to fix, but so far unsuccessfully. But everyone can vote in the general election in November.

Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, several other candidates, and I have no competition in the Democratic primary. But there are several important local and countywide races which I hope you will focus on:

·         Beltsville’s local county council member

·         two at-large county council seats

·         Prince George’s States Attorney

·         Prince George’s clerk of the court

·         Prince George’s sheriff

·         Prince George’s register of wills

Whoever you decide to support, I hope you’ll vote. That’s the best way to make your voice heard and to help keep Beltsville a good place to live and make it even better.

Can You Still Register to Vote?

Maryland offers same-day voter registration during Early Voting and on Election Day. Be sure to bring proof of residence and identification.

How Do You Vote by Mail?

Any registered Maryland voter can vote by mail. Mail-in ballots are not automatically mailed to all voters, so you must request one. You can request a ballot online through the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Deadlines to request a mail-in ballot for the 2026 Primary Election:

·         By mail or fax: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

·         Online: Friday, June 19, 2026

Completed mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 pm that day.

How Do You Vote in Person?

Maryland offers both Early Voting and Election Day voting.

Early Voting for the 2026 Primary Election will take place from Thursday, June 11 through Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 7 am to 8 pm daily. Voters may cast their ballot at any Early Voting Center in the county where they live.

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. On Election Day, voters must vote at their assigned polling place.

To find your polling location, Early Voting Center, or additional election information, visit the Maryland State Board of Elections website (https://bit.ly/4wFpC8V).

Our fight to keep Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department open

We need more public safety services in Beltsville, not less. That’s why the Delegates, Councilman Tom Dernoga, and I have fought efforts by some in Prince George’s County government to close the firehouse and have secured state money to improve it. In May, Tom, his chief of staff Michelle Garcia, and I visited the firehouse with County Fire Department officials, County Executive’s Office officials, and BVFD leaders to see what improvements need to be made to keep it safe for both volunteer and professional firefighters and to protect local residents. We asked them to develop a plan which we can review.

Contact me

Please let me know if there are other issues you have questions or thoughts about. Of course, feel free to be in touch if I can be of help to you. Just email me at jcrosapepe@yahoo.com or call 202-580-9435.