MAIL-IN AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS

In early to mid May, the Board of Elections will mail a ballot and postage-paid return envelope to the address listed on the registration record of all eligible, active voters.

Registered voters who have missed voting in the past four years or whose mail has been returned to the Board of Elections may be deemed inactive. To ensure timely receipt of a ballot, voters are encouraged to verify their registration record with the Board of Elections. Go online to voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration.  May 27 is the deadline to update a voter registration record and receive a mail-in ballot.  

A Maryland registered voter may choose to vote absentee instead of by mail-in ballot. The absentee ballot can be delivered electronically (downloaded and printed) or mailed to a different address than the one listed on the voter’s registration record. Go online to elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html. May 26 is the deadline to request mail delivery of an absentee ballot; the last day to request an absentee ballot by download is May 29. Return postage is not provided for absentee ballots.

VOTING BY MAIL & PARTY AFFILIATION

Registered voters will receive a Republican or Democratic ballot if they are affiliated with one of those parties. (Click here to learn about Maryland’s closed primary system). Voters not affiliated with the Republican or Democratic party will receive a ballot by mail only if there is a nonpartisan contest, such as a Board of Education election, in their voting district.

RETURN BALLOT BY MAIL OR SECURE DROPBOX

The Board of Elections mailing will contain instructions for marking the ballot and completing the return envelope. Follow the instructions carefully. Seal the voted ballot in the envelope and be sure to sign the oath. Keep a record of the date the voted ballot is returned.

To be counted, a voted ballot must be accompanied by a signed oath and the return envelope must be postmarked on or before June 2 or deposited in a secure dropbox no later than 8 p.m. on June 2. Dropboxes will be located at in-person voting centers (see below) and at the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections, 6740 Baymeadow Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21060, from May 21 through June 2. Voters are encouraged to return ballots before the deadline.

Protect your vote. Seal the envelope. Sign the oath. Observe the deadlines. Put the return envelope directly in the U.S. mail or in a Board of Elections dropbox. Do not allow another person to collect your ballot.

LIMITED IN-PERSON VOTING

Due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, voters are strongly encouraged to use in-person voting only if it is not possible to vote by mail.

Voters who need to use a ballot marking device, those registering to vote for the first time, and those who did not receive a ballot but believe they are registered, will be able to vote on Election Day, June 2, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at in-person voting centers. Locations are listed below.