Mail-in Voting: Information and Instructions for the 2020 Elections
Important Note: Senate Bill 145, passed by the Maryland General Assembly and enacted on May 8, 2020 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” in all communications with voters and the general public. Please note that this change in terminology does NOT change the process of mail-in voting.
Who may vote by mail-in ballot?
Any registered voter may vote by mail-in ballot. You don't need a reason to vote by mail-in ballot. It's another way to vote if you don't want to or can't go to an early voting center or your polling place.
If you do not know if you are registered to vote, use the online voter look-up to find out. If you are not registered to vote, find out how to register to vote.
How do I request a mail-in ballot?
2020 Presidential General Election
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.
- Complete and return one of the forms below. 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 local board of elections and fill out and turn in the form.
What is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot?
The deadline depends on how you want to receive your ballot.
2020 Presidential General Election
Your request must be received (not just mailed) by Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
For the 2020 General Election only:
- If you hand deliver your request and the ballots are ready, you can pick up your mail-in ballot. You may take your mail-in ballot with you and return it by mail or you can vote it at the local board office and give it to an election official. Please visit your local board of elections' website for hours of operation.
- If you miss the deadline but still want to vote by mail-in ballot, you or your agent must apply in person at your local board of elections. For more information about someone else picking up your ballot, see Can I have someone pick up my ballot? below.
IMPORTANT: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the State Board of Elections and local board offices are currently closed to the public, therefore making an in-person ballot request is NOT available.
Under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens mail-in Voting Act, 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 mail-in voting.
Note: Maryland does not have a permanent mail-in list. If you wish to vote by mail-in ballot, you must apply for a mail-in ballot each primary and general election cycle.
How do I know if my request for a ballot was received and processed?
Visit the voter look-up website to verify if your local board of elections received your request for a ballot and the status of your mail-in ballot. If you have more questions, please contact your local board of elections.
Can I have someone pick up my ballot?
Yes. You can designate someone to be your agent. This person will take your completed mail-in ballot application to your local board of elections, pick up your ballot, and deliver it to you. To get your ballot this way, you and your agent must complete the Mail-in Ballot: Designation of Agent Form (Papeleta de Votante Ausente: Formulario para Designar un Representante). This form can also be obtained from your local board of elections.
IMPORTANT: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the State Board of Elections and local board offices are currently closed to the public, therefore making an in-person ballot request is NOT available.
How will I receive my mail-in ballot?
You choose how you want to receive your mail-in ballot. Election officials can mail or fax your ballot to you, or you can download your ballot from the State's website.
When you request a ballot, you pick how you want to receive your ballot. If you want to download your ballot, make sure you provide your email address.
Ballots are sent or posted to the website about 3 weeks before an election. If you want to download your ballot, we will send you an email when your ballot is ready. The email will include a link where you can print your ballot and instructions.
If you would like your ballot delivered to you electronically or want your ballot mailed to a different address, please submit a request. You can submit a request online or via paper form. If you use a paper form, 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 attachment).
How do I vote my mail-in ballot?
There are instructions with your ballot. Please review the instructions carefully before starting to vote.
If you received your ballot by mail or fax, you need a black pen to vote. Review your ballot before voting as your ballot may be multiple pages. Carefully fill in the oval to the left of your choice, and do not vote for more candidates than the number specified in the contest heading. If you wish, you may vote for fewer candidates than specified.
If you download your ballot from the State's website, you can print the blank ballot and mark your ballot by hand.
Do not sign your name or make any other mark on your ballot.
Write-in voting is only allowed in general elections. A general election ballot has spaces for write-in votes. To cast a write-in vote by hand, fill in the oval to the left of the space for the write-in vote, and write the first and last names of the person in the appropriate space.
You must mail or hand deliver your mail-in ballot to a voting location, a ballot drop off box, or your local board of elections. You cannot email or fax your voted mail-in ballot.
How do I return my voted ballot?
You must mail or hand deliver your voted ballot. You cannot submit your voted ballot online, return it by email or fax.
2020 Presidential General Election
Use the envelope provided with your ballot. You can:
- Hand deliver your ballot. You must deliver it to your local board of elections by 8 pm on election day, or you may take it to an early voting center or a polling place by the time the polls close.
- Mail your ballot. If you mail your voted ballot, make sure that the envelope is postmarked on or before general election day (November 3, 2020). Your voted ballot must be received by your local board of elections by 10 am on November 13, 2020.
If you have specific questions, please contact your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections.
Can I have help voting?
Yes, if you have a disability or are unable to read or write, you may have help requesting a mail-in ballot and voting. Any person can help you except:
- A candidate on your ballot;
- Your employer or an agent of your employer; or
- An officer or agent of your union.
If you need help completing the mail-in ballot application, someone can help you with Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the application and must complete Part 4. If you cannot sign the application, the person helping you should print your name in Part 3 and write his or her initials after your name.
If you need help voting your ballot, the person helping you must mark the ballot according to your wishes and cannot make an effort to influence your vote. This person must also complete the Certification of Person Assisting mail-in Voter (provided with your mail-in ballot). This certification must be returned with your voted ballot.
Contact your local board of elections for more information on this process.
What should I do if...
...I haven't received my ballot?
Ballots are typically mailed or available for download about 3 weeks before an election.
If you requested a ballot but have not received it, and have verified on the voter look-up website that your ballot has been sent, wait a few days. Your ballot may be in transit. If the election is one week away and you haven't received your ballot, please contact your local board of elections. A representative of your local board can help you.
...my ballot is damaged or I made a mistake on my ballot?
If you received your ballot by mail or fax, contact your local board of elections, and request a replacement ballot.
If you downloaded your ballot, log back into the website. If you made your selections in the system, make your selections again and print the ballot. (We do not save your marked ballot, so you must make your selections again.) If you printed a blank ballot and marked your ballot by hand, print another ballot and mark the ballot.