Maryland Voting Requirements & Information

U.S. Vote Foundation’s Maryland Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Maryland voting rules and options. It focuses on Maryland-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Maryland voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Maryland voting tools. It's an all-in-one Maryland voting resource.

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Maryland Federal and State Elections

Tue May 14, 2024 - Maryland Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Apr 23, 2024
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue May 14, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Request for Postal Ballot by
    Tue May 7, 2024
  • Request for Online Ballot by
    Fri May 10, 2024
  • In-Person Request by
    Tue May 14, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Received in Dropbox by
    Tue May 14, 2024
  • In-Person, Received by
    Tue May 14, 2024 8:00PM EDT
  • Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
    Fri May 24, 2024

Early Voting Available

Early Voting
From Thu May 2, 2024 to Thu May 9, 2024

Tue May 14, 2024 - Maryland State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Apr 23, 2024
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue May 14, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Request for Postal Ballot by
    Tue May 7, 2024
  • Request for Online Ballot by
    Fri May 10, 2024
  • In-Person Request by
    Tue May 14, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Received in Dropbox by
    Tue May 14, 2024
  • In-Person, Received by
    Tue May 14, 2024 8:00PM EDT
  • Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
    Fri May 24, 2024

Early Voting Available

Early Voting
From Thu May 2, 2024 to Thu May 9, 2024

General Information

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • online
  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office
  • at an early voting center
  • at your local Department of Health office or Human Services office
  • at Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) offices
  • at your local Area Agency on Aging office
  • at MTA Paratransit Certification Office
  • at public institutions of higher education
  • at recruitment offices of the U.S. Armed Forces
  • at marriage license offices
  • at offices for students with disabilities at all Maryland colleges and universities

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

Any voter can both register and vote at an early voting center located in their county. For times and locations check with your county.

## Mail-In Ballots

Mail-In Ballots used to be called Absentee Ballots in Maryland. Though the terminology has changed, the rules have not. Any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot and vote by mail. You may request a ballot for just one election or for all future elections. If you decide to vote in person after requesting a mail-in ballot, you will have to use a provisional ballot.

Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to vote in Maryland if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of Maryland
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

You are NOT eligible to vote in Maryland if:

  • You were convicted of buying or selling votes
  • You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction
  • A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.

Restorative Requirements

  • If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

Conviction of buying or selling votes results in permanent loss of voting rights.

You may preregister to vote in Maryland

  • At the age 16

If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Maryland if:

  • You reside in Maryland but are attending college in another state
  • You reside in another state but attend college in Maryland

Identification Requirements

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Maryland you should provide one of the following:

  • Maryland Learner's Permit
  • Your Maryland Driver's License Number
  • Your Maryland ID Number

If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:

  • Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number

If you are registering for the first time by mail and can not be identified by the ID information you provided, you will need to provide proof of residence. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include:

  • Maryland ID Card
  • Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
  • Valid Maryland Driver's License except one issued to an individual that is not a United States citizen
  • Change of Address Card
  • Current Utility Bill or Pay Check or Bank Statement

Voting In-Person

If you registered to vote in Maryland, you may be required to present valid ID if you are voting for the first time or your registration is incomplete. You can use any ID from this list:

  • Paycheck that shows your Current Name and Address
  • Utility Bill
  • Valid Employee ID
  • Valid Federal Issued ID
  • Valid Military ID
  • Government Check
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid ID Issued by the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles, Transportation, Highway Safety, etc.
  • Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
  • Bank Statement
  • Valid Maryland Driver's License
  • Valid Student ID
  • Valid Maryland Issued ID

Statements, checks and bills should be dated no earlier than 90 days before Election Day.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Domestic Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Maryland Federal and State Elections

Tue May 14, 2024 - Maryland Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Postmarked by
Tue Apr 23, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Request for Fax Ballot by
    Tue May 7, 2024
  • Request for Postal Ballot by
    Tue May 7, 2024
  • Request for Email or Online Ballot by
    Fri May 10, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Fri May 24, 2024

Tue May 14, 2024 - Maryland State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Postmarked by
Tue Apr 23, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Request for Fax Ballot by
    Tue May 7, 2024
  • Request for Postal Ballot by
    Tue May 7, 2024
  • Request for Email or Online Ballot by
    Fri May 10, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Fri May 24, 2024

Eligibility Requirements

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Identification Requirements

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Overseas Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

Military Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?