Mail-In, Dropbox Voting: How To Request, Track Ballot As MD Deadline Approaches

MARYLAND — Marylanders can vote by mail in the Nov. 5 general election if they want to avoid possible waits at the polls on election day, so it's important to know how to track your ballot.

The first batch of mail-in ballots was sent to voters on Sept. 21. There's still time to request a mail-in ballot, but two key deadlines are next week, so voters should act quickly.

More than 816,000 Marylanders requested mail-in ballots by Tuesday, election officials said. That's about 19% of the state's 4.2 million registered voters.

“I urge every voter who wants to cast a mail-in ballot to act before the approaching deadline,” State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said in a Tuesday press release. “Mail-in ballots are a secure and convenient option for casting your vote.”

Mail-in ballots can be returned through the U.S. Postal Service or placed in a secure ballot dropbox. From there, canvassers will tally each ballot.

Maryland offers a ballot tracker so residents can follow the process and ensure their vote is tallied.

To track a mail-in ballot, vist voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch.

Voting By Mail, Dropbox

Residents can request a mail-in ballot from the State Board of Elections or their local board.

• If you want to receive your ballot by mail or fax, your request must be received (not just mailed) by Tuesday, Oct. 29.
• If you want to receive your ballot via the internet, your request must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, for a request sent in the mail, or by 11:59 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, for a request sent by fax or submitted online.
• 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.
• The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in person is Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, by 8 p.m. Visit your local board of elections' website for hours of operation.

Mail-in ballots must be mailed and postmarked, placed in one of these dropboxes or taken to a polling place, early voting center or local board of elections by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Early Voting, Election Day Details

Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 24 through Thursday, Oct. 31. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day that week. Marylanders can vote at any early voting center in the county they live in. All the early voting center locations are posted here.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents must vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

Marylanders can update their address or register to vote at any early voting center in their county or at their newly assigned polling place on Election Day. Residents must bring their MVA-issued license, permit, ID card or change of address card. The ID can also be a paycheck, bank statement or utility bill. A government document with the voter's name and new address will also suffice.

Residents can use this tool to check their:

• Voter registration record
• Polling places
• Early voting centers
• Ballot dropboxes
• Voting districts
• Local board of elections information
• Status of their mail-in or provisional ballot
• Sample ballot

More details on how to vote are posted here.

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