Voting & Elections Toolkits

Deadline

• Voter registration deadlines are determined by the date of the election.
• April 7, 2020, for the Presidential Primary Election
• October 13, 2020, for the Presidential General Election
• Guidelines: https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html#chap2
• Election Calendar: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/index.html

You can also register to vote during early voting. https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html#chap2

Online registration

In addition to basic identifying information, federal law requires that you provide on your voter registration application a Maryland driver’s license number or MVA ID Card number or, if you do not have a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID Card, the last four digits of your social security number. Your application will NOT be processed unless you provide this information or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that you do not have a Maryland driver’s license, MVA ID Card, or social security number.

Online registration form (in English and Spanish): https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1

Mail-in registration

Printable forms (in English and Spanish): https://www.elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/documents/English_Internet_VRA.pdf

https://www.elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/documents/Spanish_Internet_VRA.pdf

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

Choosing a political party:   

You have the option to register with any of Maryland’s recognized political parties. If you choose not to register with a party, you will be registered as “unaffiliated.”     

Updating registration      

To update registration after a move, name change, or change of political party affiliation, use the voter registration form or the online registration system.

Cancelling registration

You do not need to cancel your registration if you move within Maryland.  You may cancel your registration by contacting the county board of elections.  

Maryland Local Boards of Elections

https://elections.maryland.gov/about/county_boards.html

ID Requirements for Voting

First Time Voters

Voters voting for the first time in Maryland may need to provide ID. Eligible forms of ID include a copy of a current and valid Maryland driver's license or MVA ID card, student, employee, or military ID, U.S. passport; or A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with your name and current address (the same address you write on your provisional ballot application). Current means that the document is dated within 3 months of the election.

All Other Voters

Maryland does not have ID requirements for registered voters voting at their assigned polling place, assuming their names are found on the voter rolls.  

If not found on the voter rolls, voters may cast a provisional ballot.  

More information: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/provisional_voting.html

Where to get an ID

Motor Vehicle Administration

• Locations: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/locations/

Obtaining a Driver’s License

• Applying for a license: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/drivers/apply/apply.htm

Obtaining a non-driver photo ID: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/drivers/apply/apply.htm

Absentee voting https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html

Opening/closing dates

• For the 2020 Primary Election, your request must be received (not just mailed) by:

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, if you want to receive your ballot by mail or fax

Friday, April 24, 2020, if you want to download your ballot from the State's website

• For the 2020 General Election, your request must be received (not just mailed) by:

Tuesday, October 27, 2020, if you want to receive your ballot by mail or fax

Friday, October 30, 2020, if you want to download your ballot from the State's website

• You must mail or hand deliver your voted ballot. You cannot submit your voted ballot online, return it by email or fax, or take it to an early voting center or a polling place.
• If you hand deliver your ballot, you must deliver it to your local board of elections by 8 pm on election day.
• If you mail your ballot, the envelope must be postmarked on or before primary election day (April 28, 2020) or general election day (November 3, 2020) and received by your local board of elections by 10 am on May 8, 2020 (for the primary election) or November 13, 2020 (for the general election).

Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S.

• Military and overseas voters have slightly different guidelines for absentee voting.
• https://elections.maryland.gov/overseas_voters/absentee.html

Who is eligible to use an absentee ballot?

• Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. You don't need a reason to vote by absentee ballot. It's another way to vote if you don't want to or can't go to an early voting center or your polling place.

Application for Absentee Ballot (English or Spanish): 

https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/documents/Absentee_Ballot_Application_English.pdf

https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/documents/Absentee_Ballot_Application_Spanish.pdf

Polling places and hours

• Use the Polling Place Locator to find your polling place: https://gettothepolls.com/
• For a general election or primary, polls in Maryland are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Check with Local Government or Local Board of Elections for local referenda and town elections.
• Time off to vote: Employers must give certain employees time off to vote and pay them for their absence. If an employee is a registered voter and does not have two continuous hours off-duty between 7 am and 8 pm on election day, the voter's employer must give the employee two hours to vote and pay the employee for the two hour absence.

Rides to the polls

Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:

• Lyft (www.lyft.com) provides free or discounted rides in some underserved communities
• Political parties sometimes arrange rides for voters. Contact the local office:

Republican Party: https://mdgop.org/

Democratic Party: https://www.mddems.org/

Help for disabled voters

• Disability Rights Maryland (https://disabilityrightsmd.org/voting/) enacts an Advocacy Service Plan to help Maryland’s voters with disabilities.
• All polling places in Maryland are required to be accessible and assistance is available from election judges if needed.

Ballots

Where to get more info on candidates

Referenda 

Sample ballots: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch

Who are the candidates, and what else is on the ballot?

Sample ballots are available from the Voter Services page: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch

Important Dates

Election Day is November 3, 2020

Dates of elections are governed in the Maryland Code Elections section. https://govt.westlaw.com/mdc/Browse/Home/Maryland/MarylandCodeCourtRules?guid=NC00277209B6911DB9BCF9DAC28345A2A&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)

Who conducts elections?

• The The State and Local Boards of Elections oversee statewide and local elections
• The Local Boards of Elections maintain voter rolls for each municipality
• Municipal elections are managed and scheduled by individual municipalities.

Voter Bill of Rights

Maryland does not have a Voter Bill of Rights

Where to go with complaints about candidates or how elections are conducted

Complaints about elections in Maryland are handled by State and Local Boards of Elections.

https://www.elections.maryland.gov/about/contact.html

https://www.elections.maryland.gov/about/county_boards.html

Campaign finance

Maryland Campaign Reporting Information System (https://campaignfinance.maryland.gov/) provides access to candidates’ election committee and Political Action Committee campaign finance filings

How to contact your elected officials:

Find your elected officials: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmmain.aspx?pid=legisrpage&tab=subject6&poptype=find&popid=