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Maryland
Maryland
Voter
Information
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Maryland voter registration guide
Maryland voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): Received by October 13, 2020
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by October 13, 2020
- Register to vote (in person): Received by November 3, 2020
Check your Maryland voter registration status
- 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 tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Maryland voter registration rules
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
Register to vote online in Maryland
- 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 tool.
- 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 received by October 13, 2020.
Register to vote by mail in Maryland
- 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 October 13, 2020
Register to vote in person in Maryland
- Contact your Local Election Office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Maryland driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring an official document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Maryland same day registration
- 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 state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring an official document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your Local Election Office if you have questions.
Maryland vote by mail guide
All registered Maryland voters will receive a mail-in ballot application ahead of the November 3, 2020 election.
Maryland vote by mail deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (online): Received by October 20, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (by mail): Received by October 20, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (in person): Received by October 20, 2020
- Return your mail-in ballot (by mail): Postmarked by November 3, 2020
- Return your mail-in ballot (in person): Received by November 3, 2020
Maryland vote by mail overview
Voting by mail is not as complicated as you might think. There are only a handful of steps:
- Request your mail-in ballot by the deadline.
- Receive your mail-in ballot via USPS.
- Return your mail-in ballot by the deadline.
Maryland vote by mail rules
Any registered Maryland voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Maryland vote by mail ID requirements (request)
- 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.
Maryland vote by mail ID requirements (return)
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.
Maryland vote by mail directions
In almost all cases, you will need to sign up to vote by mail. The state won’t just mail you a ballot. Don't worry: we will walk you through it. There are only a handful of steps:
- You submit an application to vote by mail.
- Your Local Election Office processes your application.
- Your Local Election Office sends your ballot to you.
- You vote using the ballot and return it by the deadline.
Request your mail-in ballot via USPS
- Download the Maryland vote by mail 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.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: received by October 20, 2020.
Request your mail-in ballot in person
- 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: received by October 20, 2020.
Receive and return your mail-in ballot
- 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 state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by November 3, 2020.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by November 3, 2020.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Additional Maryland voter information
Maryland early voting
- Early voting starts: 12 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends:
- What to bring: Most Maryland voters do not need to show ID. First time Maryland voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, a student ID issued by any accredited college or university, or a tribal ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Maryland voter id
- ID requirements for voting in person: Most Maryland voters do not need to show ID. First time Maryland voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, a student ID issued by any accredited college or university, or a tribal ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
- ID requirements for vote by mail request: * 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 requirements for vote by mail return: 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.
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
Offsite links
- Check your voter registration directly with Maryland.
- You have the right to vote. If anyone tries to stop you, call or text the National Election Protection Hotline. Their number is 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).