2020 GENERAL ELECTION
Important Note: A recent change in the law requires the State Board of Elections and each local board of elections to refer to absentee ballots as "mail-in ballots" and absentee voting as "mail-in voting." Please note that this change in terminology does NOT change the process of mail-in voting.
Introduction
There are many ways to participate in the 2020 Presidential Election. Due to COVID-19, all Marylanders are encouraged to vote by mail.
To vote by mail, you must request a mail-in ballot from the State Board of Elections or your local board. Your request for a mail-in ballot must be received by October 20, 2020.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked or placed in a designated drop box by 8pm on November 3, 2020.
Please see the directions below to request and return your mail-in ballot.
If you cannot vote by mail or want to vote in person, Marylanders can vote during early voting or on election day.
• Early voting will be held for 8 days and begin on October 26, 2020 through November 2, 2020. You can vote at any early voting center in the county you live in.
• Election Day is November 3, 2020. You can vote at any election day voting center in the county you live in.
MARYLAND VOTES 2020
This website offers a step by step guide for Marylanders who want to participate in the upcoming presidential election.
All Marylanders are encouraged to vote by mail, but Marylanders may choose to vote in person during early voting or on election day.
Below you will find information on:
- Register to Vote (deadline October 13, 2020)
- Register to Vote
- Update or Verify Voter Registration Information
- Request a Mail-in Ballot (must be received by October 20, 2020)
- Online
- By Mail
- Fax
- Vote by Mail (Mail-in Ballot)
- Complete your Ballot
- Sign It, Seal It, Send It
- Return your Ballot
- US Post Office
- Drop box locations
- Vote on Election Day (November 3, 2020)
- Times and Locations
- Accessible Voting
Register to Vote
To vote in the 2020 Election, you must be registered to vote. To learn more about who can register to vote, click here.
The deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information is October 13, 2020. To register to vote or to check your registration status, click here. Your voter registration must be up to date with your current address. To update your voter registration, click here.
You may also register to vote or update your voter registration information in person during early voting or on election day. If you update your address on election day, you will be asked to complete a provisional ballot. An election judge will assist you with this process.
Request a Mail-In Ballot
The deadline to request a ballot using our online system or by mail has passed. If you would like to vote a mail-in ballot, please go to your local board of elections. You can pick up your ballot there and either vote and return it then or take your ballot with you and return it by mail or at a ballot drop box.
Once your application is submitted, you can check the status of your application here.
Vote by Mail (Mail-in Ballot)
Maryland voters who have requested a mail-in ballot can expect to receive their ballot beginning at the end of September.
If you chose to receive your ballot by email, you will receive an email with a link that will allow you to print and mail your ballot.
If you chose to receive your mail-in ballot by U.S. Mail, simply follow the instructions with your ballot and return it in the postage-paid return envelope that accompanies your ballot.
Your mail-in ballot must be mailed or dropped in a drop off box location location by 8 pm on Election Day, November 3. If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked on or before November 3, 2020 to be counted.
Completing your Ballot
When filling out your ballot, remember to:
- Use Black Ink to Mark your Ballot
- Sign the Return Envelope. Do Not Sign the Ballot.
- Seal your Return Envelope
- Send your Ballot using the Postage-Paid Return Envelope
Returning your Ballot
Transcript
First Class Mail – U.S. Post Office
We are urging all Marylanders to return their ballots as soon as possible due to backlogs at the U.S. Postal Service. Your ballot comes with a postage-paid return envelope, so submitting your ballot by mail is free. Your ballot must be postmarked on or before November 3. Putting your ballot in a mailbox on November 3 does not mean it is postmarked.Drop Box Locations
Marylanders can use a ballot drop box to return their mail-in ballot. At least 200 drop box locations will be available statewide. Ballot drop boxes will be open until 8 pm on November 3. Click HERE to see the list of ballot drop off boxes.
Voting In Person
Vote on Election Day
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are mailing every voter an application for a mail-in ballot and encourage you to vote by mail. If you prefer to vote in person, early voting centers will be open from October 26-November 2, and election day vote centers will be open on election day. You will receive a mailing in October that will tell you where and when you can vote in person.
To make in-person voting safe, we will keep voters six feet apart and limit the number of people inside vote centers at one time. This may result in lines and wait times. The best time to vote in person is on weekends during early voting and between 10 am and 3 pm on election day.
On election day, approximately 315 vote centers will be open statewide, including the early voting centers. Voters can cast their vote at any vote center in their county of residence, and residents in the City of Baltimore may cast their vote at any vote center in the city. Your neighborhood polling place probably will not be open on election day, but there should be a vote center near you.
Plan ahead to determine which voting center works best for you!
Vote centers will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on election day. Click HERE to see the list of election day vote centers.
Accessible Voting
Maryland is committed to making voting accessible to all voters. All of the early voting centers in Maryland are accessible to voters with disabilities. To learn more about voting by mail or voting in person, click here.
I Voted
Click to download the I VOTED sticker you like!
Public Notices
We are required to provide public notice of certain changes to deadlines and timelines required by State Law. This is required by the Governor’s June 19, 2020 Order Extending Certain Licenses, Permits, Registrations, and Other Governmental Authorizations, and Authorizing Suspension of Legal Time Requirements. The State Board of Elections has suspended certain deadlines and timeframes for the 2020 General Election and adopted new deadlines and timeframes. These public notices below discuss the suspensions and new deadlines and timelines.
Dates and Times for the Canvassing and Opening of Mail-in Ballots and the Reporting of Unofficial Results of the Mail-in Ballot Vote Tabulation (PDF) - Approved August 19, 2020
Extension of Deadline for Designating Early Voting Centers (PDF) - Approved August 28,2020
Modification of Deadlines for the Submission of Mail-In Ballot Applications (PDF) - Approved August 6, 2020
Modification of Early Voting Dates (PDF) - Approved August 14, 2020
Presidential Electors
Each political party in each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia submits a list of individuals pledged to their candidate for President and equal in number to the State's electoral vote (10 for Maryland). View the current list of Presidential electors submitted by the recognized political parties in Maryland.
To learn more about the Electoral College, see our Electoral College page.
Electoral College Live Stream - Live December 14 at 12 PM
Election Calendar
2020 Election Calendar (PDF) - Updated September 21, 2020
Post-Election Audit
Information regarding the 2020 post-election manual audit
Information regarding the 2020 post-election automated audit
General Election Candidates
2020 Presidential General Election Candidate Listing - Updated every 2 hours between 9 am and 9 pm
Ballot Questions
There are two Constitutional Amendments that will appear statewide on the November 3, 2020 general election ballots. The summaries of the Constitutional Amendments can be found here (En español.) Additionally, local ballot questions may appear in certain counties. The state ballot question language and local ballot question language as they will appear on the ballot is available. A notice regarding a correction to Ballot Question G in Baltimore City is available here (PDF).
Click here to see the ballot question procamations signed by the Governor (PDF).
2020 General Election Certified Ballots (Posted 8.28.2020)
The State Board of Elections certified the content and arrangement of the general election ballots (PDF) on August 28, 2020 pursuant to EL § 9-207(a)(2). The certified ballots are below.
The State Board began to print the ballots 3 days after certification and public display.
A notice regarding a correction to Ballot Question G in Baltimore City is available here (PDF).
2020 GENERAL ELECTION
Official Election Results
See the Official election results from the general election.
Data files for the 2020 General Election
Click here to see the ballot question procamations signed by the Governor (PDF)
Election Related Reports
See the Press Room for additional reports related to this election
Additional General Election Related Reports
Under the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is required to submit to Congress reports on various election activities, including voter registration, provisional voting, and voting by military and overseas citizens. To complete its reports, the EAC requires each State to provide certain election related data.
In July 2020, the EAC distributed the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey for states to complete for the November 3, 2020 election. In response to the survey, the State submitted this Excel spreadsheet.
2020 PRIMARY ELECTION
Official Election Results
See the Official election results from the primary election.
Data files for the 2020 Primary Election
Primary Candidate List
2020 Presidential Primary Election Candidate Listing
Presidential Candidate Certification
Secretary of State's certification of Presidential Candidates for Primary Election ballot (PDF)