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Compared To Rest Of MoCo, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Turns Out To Vote

By WTOP Staff

Candidate supporters and volunteers outnumber voters at Whitman High School on TuesdayVoter turnout stats for this week’s gubernatorial primary weren’t encouraging anywhere in Maryland, especially not in Montgomery County.

The solidly blue county of 630,255 registered voters had a turnout rate of just 16.34 percent after Tuesday’s elections, the lowest of any county in the state.

Almost 24 percent of the county’s Democrats turned out, an unimpressive mark that nonetheless looks to have been lifted by higher than average Democratic turnout in Bethesda and Chevy Chase precincts.

In legislative District 16, which covers Bethesda, part of North Bethesda and Potomac, 28.55 percent of registered Democrats voted either Tuesday or in early voting. That’s a total of 14,461 voters and good for the best Democratic turnout rate of any legislative district in the county.

In County Council District 1 — the race incumbent Councilmember Roger Berliner won against Duchy Trachtenberg — 23,475 Democrats voted for a turnout rate of 28.75 percent, again the best turnout among council districts in Montgomery.

Boiling those numbers down even further will show many Bethesda and Chevy Chase polling places had Democratic turnouts surpassing 30 percent — a modest but significant fact for a state that as a whole had a primary turnout of roughly 22 percent.

The polling place at Rollingwood School Center in Chevy Chase (3200 Woodbine St.) had the best Democratic turnout among local precincts with 38.18 of registered Democrats voting either on Tuesday or in early voting.

Chevy Chase Village Hall, Clara Barton Community Center, Chevy Chase Elementary School, Westbrook Elementary School and Bethesda Library were among the local precincts that got votes from at least 30 percent of its registered Democrats.

Electronic polling book problems early on Tuesday at Bethesda Library, Chevy Chase Elementary and Westland Middle School didn’t seem to hurt turnout. Some voters who showed up at the start of voting at 7 a.m. had to fill out paper provisional ballots or return later because electronic voting cards weren’t working.

At Somerset Elementary School, near the home of attorney general nominee Brian Frosh, 772 Democrats voted on Tuesday or during early voting. Anecdotal evidence on Tuesday suggested voting there and at nearby precincts was higher than elsewhere because of Frosh’s popularity and what was expected to be a tough race against Baltimore County Del. Jon Cardin.

Two of the worst local turnouts came at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, which actually was the voting place for two precincts. One B-CC precinct reported 24.88 percent Democratic turnout, the other reported just 19.28 percent Democratic turnout.

Friendship Heights Village Center, thought by some to be a key precinct because of its surrounding senior population, pulled in 652 total Democratic voters for a turnout of just 26.45 percent.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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