Maryland Elections
Upcoming MD Election Dates
Seat Pleasant City Election – September 9, 2024
Poolesville Town Election – TBD
Maryland General Election – November 5, 2024
Maryland Elections play a vital role in determining the state’s political landscape. Through a combination of primary and general elections, Marylanders have the opportunity to choose their representatives at both state and national levels.
General election candidates are established by Primary Elections, Independent or uncontested candidates advance to the general after prerequisites are met. Primary elections establish candidates who can run for partisan offices. Typically, primaries are held between Democrats, Republicans, and sometimes a third party such as Libertarians.
If you are an eligible voter and considering voting in the upcoming 2024 general election for Maryland, you have come to the right place. At kBoulevard, you can find more information about local elections and voter registration than local news.
kBoulevard is among the most trusted sources to keep you up-to-date about Maryland local government and Maryland elections.
Frequently Asked Questions — Maryland
Elections – Primary and GENERAL
When are the voting polls open?
In Maryland, voting polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm.
The poll’s opening and closing times for different polling areas vary from one state to another. In many states, counties and cities set up their own polling hours. Typically, in these states, ballots are submitted via emails. If voters want to drop off their ballots in person at a polling place, they will have to follow a specific deadline.
Where can you find election results?
The official election results can be found on the Maryland State Board of Elections, relevant kBoulevard candidate guides, local news pages, and relevant candidate pages.
How do the primaries work in Maryland elections?
A primary election is an election used either to narrow the field of candidates for a given elective office or to determine the nominees for political parties in advance of a general election.
In Maryland elections, primaries happen at the national-level, state-level, and local-level elections before a general election. The Maryland primary election is a closed primary system. Though parties can hold an open primary election, they generally only allow registered party members to vote in the primary election.
How do I become a Maryland registered voter?
As per Maryland State Board of Election’s guidelines, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Maryland to become eligible to vote. In Maryland elections, a 16-year-old can register to vote but cannot vote unless they are 18 years old by the general election.
You are ineligible to vote:
- Been convicted of buying or selling votes
- A felony and currently serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment
- Under guardianship for mental disability and found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote
The Maryland State Legislature has approved same-day voter registration in the early voting period.
Can I register to vote in Maryland if I have been convicted of a crime?
Effective March 10, 2016, if you have been convicted of a felony, you are eligible to register to vote once you have completed the court-ordered sentence of imprisonment. For the purposes of eligibility to register to vote, convictions include federal, state, and out-of-state convictions.
Maryland voter registration can be done via mail, online, or in person at the following locations.
- Elections’ local board
- Local Department Health office
- The State Board of Elections
- Maryland Department of Human Service and local office
- Local Aging offices or Area Agency
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration office
- All public institutions of education
- MTA Paratransit Certificate Office
- Marriage licensing offices
- Recruitment offices of the Armed Forces
- Centers for students with disabilities at all Maryland universities
When can I vote in the Maryland elections?
For The Maryland Gubernatorial Primary Election 2022
- You can vote during early voting or on the day of election by mail or in-person
- Early voting for the primary election will start on Thursday, June 16, 2022, through Thursday, June 23, 2022. Each voting center will open from 7 am to 8 pm. Any voter in line by 8 pm is allowed to vote
- You need to vote at your assigned polling station on Election Day
For The Maryland Gubernatorial General Election 2022
- You can vote during early voting or on the day of election by mail or in-person
- Early voting for the general election will start on Thursday, October 27, 2022, through November 23, 2022. Each voting center will open from 7 am to 8 pm. Any voter in line by 8 pm is allowed to vote
- You need to vote at an allocated polling station on Election Day
- If voting on Election Day is difficult for you, you have the option to vote through absentee ballot.
When does the early voting period start in Maryland?
Maryland allows early voting. For both the 2022 Gubernatorial Primary and General Elections, you can vote at any early voting center in the jurisdiction where you live. However, on election day, you must vote at your assigned polling place.
Early voting typically permits citizens or residents to cast ballots at a polling place in person before elections. In states like Maryland that permit early voting, voters are given plenty of opportunities to cast their ballot by Election Day.
States that do not permit early voting also allow all or some citizens to vote early via mail-in voting sometimes referred to as “absentee voting.” While some states have no excuse for mail-in voting, others require a valid excuse. However, voters must know their respective early voting laws.
Who is allowed absentee voting in Maryland?
It is important to note a recent change in the law requires the State Board of Elections and local boards of elections to refer to absentee ballots as “mail-in ballots” and absentee voting as “mail-in voting.” Please note the change in terminology does not change the process of mail-in voting.
Fortunately, all voters in Maryland can cast a mail-in ballot if they cannot go to the polls in person. The state does not have any specific eligibility requirements for people to qualify for mail-in voting.
For the 2022 Gubernatorial General and the Primary Election, you can request a mail-in ballot:
- Online with a Maryland’s driver’s license or MVA-issued ID card
- Complete the Mail-in ballot application for 2022 elections (PDF) (Esponal PDF)
- Find your local board of elections for a mail-in application
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election depends on how you want to receive it:
- Request deadline for a mail-in ballot via in-person is primary election day, Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
- Request by mail or fax must be received by Tuesday, June 21, 2022
- Request via the internet must be received by 5pm, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the 2022 Gubernatorial General Election depends on how you want to receive it:
- Request deadline for a mail-in ballot via in-person is primary election day, Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
- Request by mail or fax must be received by Tuesday, November 8, 2022
- Request via the internet must be received by 5pm, Friday, November 4, 2022
You can verify if your ballot was received and processed at the Maryland State Board of Election’s Voter Look-Up Page.
Are there voter ID laws in Maryland?
Yes, under the “Help American Vote Act,” certain voters must satisfy an identification requirement before voting for the first time in Maryland. Voters subject to this new identification requirement if:
- Registered to vote by mail; and
- Will be voting for the first time in Maryland
Voters can satisfy the identification requirement by providing one of the following:
- The voter’s driver’s license number, MVA ID card number, or the last four digits of the voter’s social security number
- A copy of a current and valid photo identification (i.e., Maryland driver’s license, MVA ID card, student or employee photo ID card, military ID card, passport, or any other state or federal government-issued ID card).
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government documents that shows the voter’s name and address.
If your application is complete, you are considered a registered voter. You should verify whether you are registered to vote by visiting the Maryland State Board of Elections Voter Look-Up Page well before an election.
Registration is permanent as long as you continue to live in Maryland and keep your name and address current. You do not have to re-register when you move within the State.
Who are the candidates for the 2022 Maryland Primaries?
Though it is not a presidential election, the 2022 gubernatorial election is an important election for Maryland. Voters will vote for everything from the Maryland Governor, seats for Congress, and even local offices such as the Montgomery County’s County Executive. In fact, all the seats in the Maryland General Assembly are up for election.
Current incumbent and popular Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s tenure of two terms is nearing its end. Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, a popular democrat candidate, has stated that he is all set to replace him.
Maryland’s primary elections will be held on June 28, 2022. Many potential candidates are running for local seats and offices. The candidate deadline is February 22, 2022. kBoulevard will make updates to the candidates’ list as applications are made public. Take a look at the rundown of the people who have officially filed to win office.
- Comptroller
- US Senate
- Maryland House of Delegate
- Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Maryland Senate
- Register of Wills
I have a disability. Will I be able to vote in Maryland?
Yes. All early voting centers in Maryland are accessible to voters with disabilities. A ballot marking device is accessible and available at all voting locations in early voting centers and polling places.
Using a headset and keypad, blind voters and voters with low vision can vote by listening to the ballot selections and using the keypad. You may also choose to use the high contrast and large print functions of the voting unit. Other assistive devices (for example, sip and puff) can be plugged into the device.
If you want to use the audio ballot, ask an election judge. Election judges will answer questions and help you if needed.
Help with Marking Ballots
If you ask to receive your ballot via SBE’s website, you can use an online tool to help you mark your ballot. The tool is compatible with the most common software used by individuals with disabilities. You can also use your own assistive devices with the tool.
If you use this tool, you make your choices on your computer and print your ballot. Your printed ballot will have your choices marked. With this tool, most voters with disabilities can make selections without help.
Can someone help me vote?
Yes. You can bring someone to help you vote as long as that person is not:
- Your employer or an agent of your employer
- An officer or agent of your union
- A challenger or watcher
See Access by Voters with Disabilities for more information.
Are election materials available in languages other than English?
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections – Federal law requires Montgomery County to provide election materials in Spanish.
Non-English materials may be provided in other jurisdictions voluntarily. Contact your local board of elections to determine what is available in your jurisdiction.
Maryland Elections Voting Guides
In a nutshell, the upcoming Maryland elections are a hot topic in the state nowadays. kBoulevard provides reliable local election news for Maryland elections. Check out our additional expert analysis on initiatives using our candidate guides, which can prove very helpful for early voters.
kBoulevard, as a non-partisan publisher, does not endorse candidates like local news publications. We primarily cover local elections in the Metropolitan region so that our readers can access authentic and concise information when they need it most, the voting booth.
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