As both a civic right and responsibility for those who are eligible, voting plays a vital role in allowing citizens to elect officials who reflect their values. Voting is a crucial element of the democratic process at the local, state, and federal levels. At ĢƵ, we support our students by providing information and tools to help them fulfill their civic duty of voting.
2026 Elections
The 2026 elections include races at the national, state, and local levels. All435 U.S. House seatsԻ35 U.S. Senate seatswill be on the ballot, along with39 gubernatorial races. Voters will also elect thousands ofstate and localofficials, including state legislators, mayors, city council members, school board members, and judges.In total, more than53,000 electionswill take place nationwide. Visit the FAQ sections on theMaryland VotersԻOut-of-State Votersto learn how you can vote.
Volunteer on Election Day
Election volunteer opportunities are available in Maryland and out-of-state. Many of these opportunities are paid. Learn how you can sign up to work the polls on Election Day in Maryland or out-of-state.
Maryland Voting FAQs
As a Maryland resident, you can learn more about the voting options available to you. Get answers to questions about voter registration, process, deadlines, mail-in voting, and more.
- Primary Election Day: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
- General Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Deadline to Change Party Affiliation:
- June 2, 2026 → for the Primary Election
You can alsoaccess the for other important elections.
Maryland uses, so yougenerally mustbeas a Democrat or Republicanto vote for a party’s primary races, which matters because primaries decide which candidates appear on thegeneral electionballot. Unaffiliated voters may vote innonpartisan primary raceslikeschoolboard. You canexcept when voter registration is closed. Ifyou’llbe18 years old by the general election, you may vote in theprimary.
Always confirm eligibility, deadlines, and voting options through official election sources such asor
First, read about Maryland voter registration eligibility on the . This page also has information about eligibility to vote in Maryland if you are a U.S. citizen living overseas or are in the military.
Use to register to vote in Maryland or at a number of different locations.
You can also register to vote in-person during early voting and on election day. To prove where you live, bring your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or yourpaycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and address.
You can check if you’re on the state's Board of Elections website.
State and local elections can happen within any year and often occur outside of major federal election cycles. To find out if there’s an election in your area this year:
- Gubernatorial Elections: View the schedule by state for upcoming governor races at list.
- State and Local Elections: For city, county, school board, and other local elections, check with your or visit the for a complete list of dates and deadlines.
- You can also explore or for a detailed breakdown of upcoming municipal elections.
You can learn about candidates by reviewingnonpartisan voter guides,candidate websites, andpublic statements. Resources likeԻprovide candidate backgrounds, policy positions, and election details. Local election offices may also sharesample ballotsand candidate information.
Any registered voter may vote by mail-in ballot. You do not need an extenuating reason or circumstance to do so. It is simply another way to vote if you do not want or cannot go to an early voting center or your polling place.
There are three ways you can request a mail-in ballot:
- Online if you have a Maryland’s driver’s license or MVA-issued ID card. You can .
- Complete and return one of the PDF forms provided by the Maryland State Board of Elections available under the dropdown item. Read the instructions, enter the required information, print the form, sign it, and return it to your local board of elections. You can return it by mail, fax, or email (scanned as an attachment).
- Go to your and fill out and turn in the form.
You should request your mail-in ballot as early as possible, ideally several weeks before Election Day. The earlier you request it, the more time you’ll have to complete and return it on time.
Typical Deadlines to Request Your Ballot
Deadlines vary by state, but here’s a general guideline:
- By mail or fax: Requests are usually due about 7–12 days before Election Day.
- By email or online (to print at home): Requests may be accepted up to 3–5 days before Election Day, depending on your state.
- You may request a on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.
If you miss the deadline to receive your ballot by mail, you may still be able to apply in-person at your local election office.
* Please note that a ballot received via the internet must still be returned by hand, by mail, or dropped at a ballot drop off box.
Under the federal , military voters and voters who live outside the U.S. can vote by mail-in ballot. If you are a military voter or live outside of the U.S., learn more about .
You can choose to receive your mail-in ballot by mail or email. If you choose to receive your ballot by email, you will receive an email with a link that will allow you to print and mail your ballot.
After completing your ballot, you must mail or hand-deliver it.Marylanders can use a ballot drop box to return their mail-in ballot.Ballot drop boxes will be open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.Visit the to find information on ballot drop box locations. You cannot submit your voted ballot online, by email, or by fax.
If you have specific questions, please contact your or the .
on the Maryland Board of Elections website.
If for some reason you don't receive your ballot or are not able to fill it out and return it on time, you may cast a provisional ballot in person on Election Day. This ballot will notbe counted until nine days after Election Day, upon verification that you only cast one ballot.
In Maryland, if you vote in person, you will fill in a paper ballot by pen. You can also mark your ballot electronically. Election workers will be there to help you scan in your vote and assist with any questions. You must, however, cast your vote alone unless you are unable to do so due to a disability or you are unable to read or write in English.
Visit the state's Board of Elections website to get more information about .
In order to vote in Maryland on Election Day, you must be a Maryland resident who is registered to vote. If you are not a Maryland registered voter, you should plan ahead to request an absentee ballot from your home state by their set deadlines. Find out further information on how to .
If you are at home on Election Day, in the state where you’re registered to vote, you may vote there on Election Day. Find out more information about .
Additional Maryland & General Voting Resources
Out-of-State Voting FAQs
Learn about the voting options available to you as an out-of-state resident. Find sources of information about voter registration, process, deadlines, mail-in voting, and more.
Learn how to register so you can .
You can also check to see if you're .
The voter registration deadline varies by state. Learn about .
Find your state's locations and dates for .
State and local elections can happenwithin any yearand often occur outside of major federal election cycles. To find out if there’s an election in your area this year:
- Gubernatorial Elections: View the schedule by state for upcoming governor races atlist.
- State and Local Elections: For city, county, school board, and other local elections, check with youror visit thefor a complete list of dates and deadlines.
- You can also exploreorfor a detailed breakdown of upcoming municipal elections.
If you will not be in your home state on Election Day, you should plan ahead to request a mail-in or absentee ballot from your home state by their set deadlines. You can also check your state’s early voting period to see if you would be in your home state to vote then.
Find out how to .
Election timelines—such as primary dates, registration deadlines, andearly votingperiods—vary widely by state, soit’simportant to check your specific state rules. You can find statewide election deadlines and schedules through your state’s official election website or other trusted nonpartisan sources. To learn more about important statewide election datesԻ.
Toparticipatein a primary election, you must registerto voteby the deadline.Your ballot will bedependent on your state’s party affiliation requirements, such as which party primaries you canparticipatein. Learn more or. Voting options may includein-person,mail, orearly voting, depending on your state. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines, and voting options through official election sources such asor
You can learn about candidates by reviewingnonpartisan voter guides,candidate websites, andpublic statements. Resources likeԻprovide candidate backgrounds, policy positions, and election details. Local election offices may also sharesample ballotsand candidate information.