.png)
Maryland | Voting Guide
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: 21 days before Election Day.
If registering online, the application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. the night of the registration deadline; for other registration methods, the deadline is at 5 p.m.
If registering by mail, applications must be postmarked by 21 days before Election Day
You can also register and vote in person during the Early Voting period or on Election Day.
2024
Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline (online or by mail): April 23
Primary Election: May 14
General Election Voter Registration Deadline (online or by mail): October 15
General Election: November 5
Official Election Websites
More election information at
Online voter registration available at
voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/onlinevoterregistration/
Mail-in PDF voter registration form available at
elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/documents/English_Internet_VRA.pdf
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
Maryland’s voter registration form asks for your Maryland driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.
The online voter registration system requires you to have a Maryland-issued driver’s license or ID, unless you currently reside outside of the United States or are a military member or the spouse or dependent of a military member, in which case you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you choose to register at an early voting location or on Election Day, you must provide a document that proves your address. This can be:
A Maryland-issued driver’s license or ID card
An official document that contains your name and address, including:
-- Paycheck
-- Bank statement
-- Utility bill
-- Change of address form
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
Maryland does not require voter ID.
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at:
How Can I Vote?
By Mail
Any registered Maryland voter can vote by mail. There are three ways to request a mail-in ballot:
Through the state’s online portal with a Maryland driver's license or ID card: bit.ly/MDMail-inBallotRequestONLINE
By printing and filling out a request form and mailing it to your local board of elections: bit.ly/MDMail-inBallotRequestPDF
By filling out a request form in-person at your local Board of Elections
Voters with disabilities may request a mail ballot that can be marked using an online marking tool. More information is available at: elections.maryland.gov/voting/accessibility.html.
The deadline for requesting a mail ballot depends on the method of submission and the preferred method of delivery:
In-person requests may be made through Election Day. Contact your local election board for hours.
To receive a ballot by mail or fax, a request must be submitted 7 days before Election Day.
To receive a ballot online, a request submitted by mail must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day.
To receive a ballot online, a request submitted online or by fax must be received by 11:59 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day.
The deadline for returning a completed mail ballot depends on the method of return:
Ballots submitted in person must be returned to the local board of elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or at any early voting center, Election Day polling place, or designated secure drop box by close of polls on Election Day
Ballots submitted by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than 10 a.m. on the second Friday after Election Day
Early In-Person
You can vote early at any early voting site in your county. For more information about early voting, including dates and polling hours for upcoming elections, visit
elections.maryland.gov/voting/early_voting.html
Election Day
Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by closing time, then you have a right to vote.
Common Questions/Concerns
Registering to Vote Does Not Affect Your:
Federal Financial Aid
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Tuition Status
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Maryland affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a new resident of Maryland, you may be required to obtain a Maryland’s driver’s license or update your car registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, you may wish to contact the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Maryland legal professional.
Last updated May 2023