Maryland

The deadline to cure (correct) your absentee/ballot is by 10am on November 15, 2024. A clerk will notify you as soon as possible if your ballot was rejected, and, if enough time allows, send a new ballot if your original ballot was received by mail. If you voted a provisional ballot due to a lack of ID, you have by 10am on November 20, 2024, to provide proper ID to your local board of elections. You can track the status of your ballot using your state’s online tool. 

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.

For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.

Drop-box locations for the 2024 Primary Election can be found here.

You can drop your ballot off at a drop-box location or hand-deliver it to your local board of elections. 

There are locations in each county where you can vote before Election Day. To vote early in the 2024 Primary Election, go to a location in your county Thursday, May 2nd through Thursday, May 9th between 7 am and 8 pm.

If you vote early, you cannot vote on Election Day or by mail-in ballot. 

Note:  If you are eligible but not yet registered to vote, you can register and vote during early voting. Go to an early voting center in the county where you live and bring a document that proves where you live.

The next statewide primary is on May 14, 2024. The next general election is on November 5, 2024.

Contact your local Board of Elections for information about local elections.

To be eligible to register to vote you must be:

• A US citizen
• A Maryland resident
• At least 16 years old (you can register at 16, but generally, you're not able to vote unless you'll be 18 by the next General Election)
• Not have been found by a court to be incapable of voting by reason of mental disability
• Not have been convicted of buying or selling votes
• Not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have, you have completed serving a court ordered sentence of imprisonment.

Youth Vote

In Maryland, cities can choose to lower the voting age at the local level through a city council vote. So far, the following municipalities have lowed their voting age to 16 for all local elections: Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Riverdale Park, and Takoma Park. This means that every resident of these municipalities who will be 16 years of age or older on Election Day is eligible to register and vote in local elections. You must be 18 by Election Day to vote in state or federal elections.

Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens: 

In Maryland, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. If you lost your voting rights because of a conviction, you could register to vote immediately after release. Your voting rights are not restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole. 

Voters without traditional residence: 

It is not mandatory for citizens to possess a "permanent home" for voter registration. A citizen can provide an alternative description of their residence, even if they are experiencing homelessness, as long as it enables the authorities to identify and assign a voting precinct to them. This precinct assignment ensures that the voter receives the appropriate ballot. The mailing address on their registration form can be a PO box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for them. 

When registering to vote, you will need to provide either your current, valid state driver's license or MVA ID card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your voter registration form.

Some first-time voters may need to show ID before casting their ballot. If you are a new voter, please present one of the following forms of identification to the election judge:

• A current and valid photo ID such as a Maryland driver's license, MVA ID card, student, employee, or military ID card, U.S. passport, or any other State or federal government-issued ID card.
• A current document that shows your name and address
  • Such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or any other official document.
  • The document must be dated within three months of the election to be considered current.

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline.

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.

Official election results will be uploaded on the Maryland Board of Elections website at the bottom of the page as they become available. 

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!In order to be an Election Judge, you must be:

• 16 years or older (if you are 16 you must have a parent or guardian permission)
• Registered to vote in Maryland
• Physically and mentally able to work at least a 15 hour day
• Willing to work outside your home precinct
• Able to sit and/or stand for an extended time
• Able to speak, read and write English

You cannot be an election judge if you are a:

• Candidate or currently holding public office
• Chairman, campaign manager or treasurer for a political or candidate committee

Why should you be an election judge?

• You will get paid
• You will help voters
• You are involved in the election process!

If you'd like to apply to becoming an election judge, click here.

The polling place hours of operation are from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.

If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your local board of elections.

The Democratic and Republican Parties are required to use primary elections to choose their candidates for the general election. The rules for who can vote in a primary vary by state.

Maryland has “closed primary” elections. This means that voters must generally be registered with either the Democratic or Republican Party in order to vote. However, all voters may vote in nonpartisan primary elections, such as those for school boards. For more information on closed primary elections, see the Maryland State Board of Elections website.

A provisional ballot allows someone who thinks they are an eligible voter to vote. You may vote a provisional ballot if you meet specific conditions.

You might vote a provisional ballot if:

• You are not listed on the precinct register
• You moved and did not update your address and tried to vote at your prior address
• You received an absentee ballot for this election, or that you already voted this election
• You tried to register during early voting, but could not determine if you're eligible to vote
• You did not prove where you live when you registered to vote
• You did not show ID if you're voting for the first time in Maryland and did not provide ID when you registered
• You did not provide your drivers license number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number on your voter registration form, or the number could not be verified.
• Someone challenged your right to vote
• A court ordered the polling location to stay open late and you voted during this extra time

For instances where you voted a provisional ballot because you did not provide ID you must show ID or an ID number to your local board of elections before 10am on the 2nd Wednesday after election day. You can track the status of your provisional ballot here.

For more information about provisional voting, see the Maryland State Board of Elections website.

Maryland's voting system accommodates voters with disabilities by offering an audio ballot. Using headphones, the voter listens to the ballot and records the vote using a keypad. Both the headphones and keypad are provided. To assure the privacy of the voter, the voting unit's screen is blank while the audio ballot feature is being used.

A magnified ballot is provided for voters who have low vision.

An adjustable screen is available to accommodate voters who prefer or need to sit while voting.

To use one of the accessibility options, ask an election judge for a particular option. A voter will not be required to provide an explanation or fill out additional paperwork. Election judges will be available to answer questions and, if needed, provide assistance. If you need assistance voting, you may select someone to assist you in the voting process. Maryland law prohibits a voter's employer or agent of the employer or an officer or agent of the voter's union from serving as a voter's assistant. An election judge may assist you, but only in the presence of another election judge of a different political party.

For more information on provisions for voters with disabilities in Maryland, please see the State Board of Elections website. For more general information on voting rights and accessibility, please see the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

You can now register to vote or update your registration online! You may also submit a voter registration application to your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections at any time. Your application must be postmarked by the voter registration deadline (21 days before Election Day) in order to vote in the next scheduled election. 

The voter registration application must be received by a Maryland election office no later than 9 p.m., 21 days before an election. If your application is complete and you are found to be qualified, a Voter Notification Card will be mailed to you. You are not registered until you receive your Voter Notification Card.

Election day registration is also available. Go to an early voting center in the county in where you live during early voting, or go to your assigned election day polling place and bring a document that proves where you live. 

• MVA-issued license
• ID card
• Change of address card
• Paycheck, bank statement, utility bill
• Any other government document with your name and new address.

Employers must grant employees up to two hours of paid leave to vote, unless polls are open 2 hours before or after regular working shift, or if employee has sufficient time to vote on his/her own. Employees must provide proof that they cast their vote to receive compensation for time off.

To verify your voter registration status

Maryland voters use a voter-verifiable paper record voting system.

Voter-verifiable Paper Voting System: Voters will mark a paper ballot and then feed the ballot into a ballot scanner. The scanner will read the voter's selection and the ballot will drop into a locked ballot box.

The scanner uses technology that can identify the voters selections. When you mark your ballot by hand, the scanner will look for marks inside the ovals. If you make any other types of marks (check marks, etc.) the scanner will let you know that you need to correct your ballot. You can ask the scanner to return your ballot and make your corrections on a new ballot.

You will not get a receipt showing how you voted, however, you will continue to get your "I Voted" sticker to show you voted.

For more information on the new voting system, check out your state's resource.