Get the Facts!

Can I vote in the General Election?

Rumor: You can't vote in the general election if you didn't vote in the primary election.

FACT: You can vote in the general election regardless of whether you voted in the primary election. As long as you registered to vote in Maryland, you can vote in the general election.

Home Foreclosures

Rumor: My home is in foreclosure, I will not be allowed to vote.

FACT: Maryland's Constitution (Art. I, § 1) guarantees each citizen who is 18 years old and a resident of the State the right to vote. The fact that your home is in foreclosure has no bearing on your right to vote. It may, however, affect where you vote. If you have left your home and taken up a new residence, you will need to update your voter registration (by October 12, 2010) and vote in the election district and precinct for your new residence. If you had to leave your residence due to a foreclosure and haven't established a new permanent residence you may still vote on November 2nd based on the address of the foreclosed residence.

Supporting Documentation:

• Letter from the Attorney General to Linda Lamone regarding reports of voter challenges of persons whose homes have been foreclosed 9-24-2008.

Absentee Voting by Military and Overseas Voters

Rumor: The State of Maryland is asking the federal government to waive the requirement to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters.

FACT: The State submitted a request to waive the requirement to mail absentee ballots to certain military and overseas voters at least 45 days before an election as a safety net while election officials worked to develop a solution that met the requirements of the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act. When a solution was identified, the State withdrew its request. For more information, read the press release on this issue.

Early Voting Centers

Rumor: You can vote at an early voting center on election day.

FACT: Early voting centers will not be open for voting on election day. Early voting centers are only open for voting during early voting. On election day, you must vote at the polling place for the address where you live.

Choosing an Early Voting Center

Rumor: During early voting, you must go to the early voting center that is closest to where you live.

FACT: You can go to any early voting center in the county where you reside. Most counties have only one early voting center, but if the county where you live has more than one early voting center, you can go to any of the early voting centers.

Absentee Voting by Military and Overseas Voters

Rumor: The State of Maryland is asking the federal government to waive the requirement to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters.

FACT:The request recently submitted to the Federal Voting Assistance Program asks for a waiver of the requirement to mail absentee ballots to certain military and overseas voters at least 45 days before an election. Absentee ballots will still be mailed to military and overseas voters; the only question is when the ballots will be mailed.

The State asked for a waiver of the 45-day mailing requirement because of the short time between the primary election (September 14th) and the general election (November 2nd). Before absentee ballots for the general election can be mailed, the results of the primary election must be complete. Since the primary election results will not be complete until September 22nd - 24th, election officials are unable to meet the requirement to mail absentee ballots for the general election by September 18th (45 days before the general election and several days before the primary election results are complete).