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.
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 |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
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 |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |