How to vote in Maryland
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Maryland voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Maryland registration using the Maryland voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Maryland you must:
- be a U.S. citizen
- be a Maryland resident
- be 18 years old by the next General Election (you may pre-register if you are 16)
- not be under guardianship for mental disability
- not have been convicted of buying or selling votes
- not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have, have completed serving a court ordered sentence of imprisonment, including any term of parole or probation for the conviction.
You can register to vote online if you have a Maryland driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
- Visit the Maryland online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 21 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: If you have a current and valid Maryland driver's license or state ID card, please provide that number. If you don't have either of these forms of ID, please provide the last four digits of your social security number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 21 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Maryland driver's license or Maryland state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: Maryland has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Maryland driver's license or Maryland state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison. You can register to vote unless you were convicted of buying and selling votes.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Maryland absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Maryland voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the Maryland absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 7 days before Election Day.
- Download the Maryland absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- Online applications: you will need to provide your Maryland driver's license number, state ID number, or learner's permit number.
- Paper applications: the signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Maryland absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it.
- The state might contact you by email or phone to make corrections, but don't count on it.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 10th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You may submit a ballot request online through the Friday before Election Day. You may authorize a person to submit a ballot request on your behalf at the local election board office until polls close on Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends close of polls Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Maryland early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 12 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 5 days before Election Day
Only first-time voters need to show ID. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other government-issued photo ID. You can also show an student ID from an accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Maryland voter ID guide
Only first-time voters need to show ID. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other government-issued photo ID. You can also show an student ID from an accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
- Online applications: you will need to provide your Maryland driver's license number, state ID number, or learner's permit number.
- Paper applications: the signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have a Maryland driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
Bring your Maryland driver's license or Maryland state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Maryland elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
State Board of Elections P.O. Box 6486 Annapolis, MD 21401‐0486