Voting in Maryland
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Contents |
Registration
Maryland uses a closed primary system, meaning voters must register with a party to be able to vote in their primary election.
To vote in Maryland, you must meet the following requirements:[1]
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be a Maryland resident;
- Be at least 16 years old*
- 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, including any term of parole or probation for the conviction.
When and where
Registration must be completed by the 21st day prior to an election. You can register by printing and filling out and application form. You can also register in person at one of the following locations:[1]
- Your local board of elections;
- The State Board of Elections;
- The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
- The Department of Social Services;
- The Motor Vehicle Administration;
- Offices on Aging;
- The MTA Paratransit Certification Office;
- All public institutions of higher education;
- Recruitment offices of the U.S. Armed Forces;
- Marriage License offices; and
- Offices for students with disabilities at all Maryland colleges and universities.
Online registration
As of May 2013, Maryland is one of the 13 states that have implemented online voter registration. Residents can register online at this website
Proposed Changes
The 2013 Maryland State Legislature passed a bill that authorizes same day registration during the early voting period. It also expands the early voting period from 6 days to 8 days.[2] The law will become effective on July 1, 2013[3]
| Bill | Introduced | Senate Vote | House Vote | Senate Vote | Gubernatorial Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB 279 | Jan. 18, 2013 in Maryland Senate |  on March 11, 2013, 35 to 12
|
on April 4, 2013, 101 to 37
|
w/amendments April 8, 2013 38 to 9
|
on May 2, 2013
|
Voting on election day
In general, most voters meet the necessary HAVA requirements during registration. Identification at the polls is usually only requested for voters that do not have a driver's license, state ID card, or social security card and who submitted their voter registration applications by mail after January 1, 2006; and those voters who registered to vote by mail between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2005 and have not yet voted for the first time.[4]
Poll times
- See also: State Poll Opening and Closing Times
In Maryland, all polling places are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Eastern Time.[5]
Absentee voting
Eligibility
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Maryland. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.
Deadlines
To vote absentee, an absentee ballot application must be received by the election office at least 7 days prior to the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be postmarked on or before election day if submitted by mail. Ballots can also be returned in person until 8pm on election day.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
Early voting
Maryland is one of 33 states that has early voting with no specific requirements as to who can vote early. Early voting begins on the 2nd Saturday prior to election and ends on the Thursday before the election (10-5 days prior). It is not held on the Sunday that falls in that period of time. The average number of days prior to an election that voters can cast an early ballot is 21 days in states with a definitive starting date.
