Plan ahead! How will you vote in 2026?

 2026 Maryland Primary Election Dates

Register to vote, update registration or change party affiliation online, by mail or in person: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Early Voting: Thursday, June 11 through Thursday, June 18 from 7am-8pm

Election Day:   Tuesday, June 23 from 7am-8pm

Register to vote at designated polling place: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Registering to Vote

*You may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old but you must be at least 18 years old on Tuesday, June 23 to vote in the primary election.

How to register: You may register to vote, update your registration and/or change your party affiliation online, or in person at any of the following:

• Your local board of elections;
• The State Board of Elections;
• Your local Department of Health office; 
• The Maryland Department of Human Services local offices; 
• The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) offices; 
• Your local Area Agency on Aging office;
• 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.

Registration deadlines: Registration officially closes 21 days before an election. For the 2026 Primary Election, this deadline is Tuesday, June 2.

Same day registration: Maryland law allows residents to register to vote and/or update their address in person at early voting sites and at their voting precinct on election day. Party affiliation may not be changed. Bring a document that proves where you live, such as your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address.

Voting by Mail-In Ballot

If you don't plan to vote in person at an early voting site or on election day, you MUST APPLY for a mail-in ballot.

• To apply for a mail-in ballot, go online to voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/onlinemailinrequest, text VBM to 77788, or apply in person at the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections, 6740 Baymeadow Drive, Glen Burnie, MD.  Call 410-222-6600 for assistance.
• The Board of Elections must receive your application for a mail-in ballot by June 16 to vote by mail in the 2026 Primary Election. See below for complete instructions.  
• Track the status of your ballot here: voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch
• Mail-in ballots must either:
  • be placed in a secure ballot drop box by 8 pm on June 23 OR
  • have an official USPS postmark dated June 23 or before.

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Requesting Your Mail-In Ballot

First, check to make sure your voter registration information is correct here: voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch. 

Then request a mail-in ballot (previously called an "absentee ballot") using one of these options:

• Request your ballot online now.
  • This will require a Maryland driver’s license or state ID. 
• Download and print a ballot request form. English | Español 
  • Fill it out and mail it now. You will need your own envelope and stamp.
• If you are an active registered voter, the Board of Elections will send you a ballot request form via U.S. Mail.
  
  • To expedite receipt of your ballot, complete and return the request form as soon as it arrives.
  • This request form will come with a postage-paid envelope.

The Board of Elections recommends that you receive your ballot by U.S. mail unless it is not practical or possible for you to use that option.

How to Complete & Return Your Mail-In Ballot

• Ballots will be mailed with instructions for marking and returning them to the Board of Elections.
  • Follow the instructions carefully. You must sign an oath that accompanies the ballot. Failure to complete the return envelope correctly may result in your ballot not being counted. 
• Ballots sent by regular mail must be POSTMARKED no later than June 23 in order to be counted. To ensure a valid postmark, you are encouraged to have your ballot officially postmarked at a USPS post office. If that's not possible, it's strongly recommended that you mail your ballot at least one week before election day.
  • The Board of Elections website includes a form where you can check to see if your ballot was received.
• Instead of returning your ballot by U.S. Mail, you may put it in one of the secure ballot drop boxes provided by the Board of Elections.  Your ballot must be returned to a drop box by 8:00 pm on June 23 to be counted.

Protect your ballot.  Be wary of anyone who offers to collect ballots.  Be sure that your ballot is sealed in its envelope and put it directly in the U.S. Mail or a Board of Elections drop box.

In-Person Voting at Vote Centers

Early Voting: Thursday, June 11 through Thursday, June 18 from 7 am-8 pm

• Avoid the rush – vote early!
• You may cast your official ballot at any Anne Arundel early voting site. Check the County Board of Elections website for locations. 
• New voter registration will be available at all voting sites. 
• All early voting centers in Maryland are accessible to voters with disabilities.

Primary Election Day Voting: Tuesday, June 23 from 7 am to 8 pm

• On election day, you must vote at your assigned polling place. 
• The sample ballot you receive from the Board of Elections will list your assigned polling place. 
• The complete 2026 polling place list by precinct will also be posted on the Board of Elections website.
• All election day polling places are open continuously from 7 am until 8 pm on June 23. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.
• New voter registration will be available at all voting sites.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE.  PLAN AHEAD.  HOW AND WHEN YOU WILL VOTE?

Visit the County Board of Elections website for answers and assistance.

Visit VOTE411 for Information on the Candidates, Issues and Ballot Questions