No Kings shifted its mission this weekend from protests to encouraging residents to vote early. The North Bethesda group’s press release cited as many as 400 residents rallying along Rockville Pike on Saturday.
The protesters were asking voters to make a plan to vote in advance during Maryland’s weeklong in-person early voting period, which starts Thursday, Oct. 22. The county has 14 early voting centers.
People dressed as walking drop boxes told passersby to place their completed mail-in ballots in any of the county’s 58 official drop boxes any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
At the Pike & Rose farmers’ market, volunteers distributed flyers with information on early voting and voters’ rights.
The protest, called “No Kings: Vote Early” was an event focused on all eligible voters, organizers say. It is nonpartisan and not affiliated with any candidate or political party, according to the organizing group.
Saturday, Oct. 17 marked a nationwide day of action.
