These are the most frequently asked questions about Election Day.
Q: Can someone who is ill or in the hospital on Election Day still vote?
A: Yes. The voter or a duly authorized agent must apply for an absentee ballot in person at the Local Board of Elections where the voter resides. The voter must complete the Late Absentee Ballot Application and can designate the agent on this form. The voter may select anyone to serve as his or her agent as long as the agent is at least 18 years old and is not a candidate on the voter's ballot.
Yes. The person desiring to vote may apply in person or through a duly authorized agent who must be at least 18 years of age.
The agent should first call the County Election Board where the absentee voter is registered for the complete absentee ballot application procedures.
Q: Can a bar or packaged goods store serve alcoholic beverages on Election Day?
A: Yes. (Article 2B, Alcoholic Beverages)
Q: Can someone help me vote?
A: Yes. You may have assistance in the polling place casting your ballot because of a physical disability or an inability to read the English language. Assistance will be given, if requested, by the election judges or you can bring someone with you. The person you bring with you may not be your employer, an agent of your emplyoer, or an officer or agent of your union.
Q: Can children accompany me into the voting booth?
A: Yes, you make take up to two children who are in your care into the voting booth with you provided they are not over the age of 13 years and they do not cause a disruption or interfere with normal voting procedures.
Q: How far away from the polling place must I be to electioneer?
A: The line shall be located as near as practicable to 100 feet from the entrance and exit of the polling place.
Q: Can I use my cell phone, pager, or computer in the polling place?
A: No. Maryland law prohibits the use of cell phones, pagers, cameras and computer equipment in a polling place for non-election related purposes.
Q: Can I take an Exit Poll?
A: Yes, under the following conditions:
Q: Do I need to show identification before voting?
A: It depends. You will be asked to provide identification if:
If you registered to vote by mail after January 1, 2006, you most likely satisfied the identification requirement during the registration process. If you did not satisfy the requirement, your County Board of Elections will have notified you and requested information to satisfy the identification requirement. (See list below.)
You can satisfy the identification requirement by providing one of the following:
If you do not satisfy the identification requirement before voting for the first time, you will be required to present identification when you vote.
Q: I've received a mailing from the State telling me that information in my application could not be verified. What does this mean? Will I be able to vote on election day?
A: This means that, although you provided your driver's license or social security number on the application, the State was unable to verify this number and requested additional information from you. This could happen for many reasons, including the following: parts of your application were illegible or incorrect; errors occurred in the process of entering data from your application into the State's database; or older records in other systems used a different name, e.g., the maiden name of a woman who now uses her married name.
If you have not already submitted the requested information, you may do so when you vote in the upcoming election. If you vote in person on November 7th, please bring one of the following with you to the polls. If you are voting by absentee ballot, please include a copy of one of the following with your absentee ballot.
At the polls, you will be required to vote by provisional ballot. Providing the above requested information will complete your registration. Your provisional ballot will be counted if your application is complete and your ballot is properly cast.
Q: Can I take a newspaper into the voting booth with me?
A: Yes. You may take any written or printed material into the polling place that will assist with marking or preparing the ballot.
Q: Can election judges have newspapers, radios, or televisions in the polling places?
A: No. Election judges are prohibited from bringing newspapers, radios, or televisions into the polling places. It is possible that newspaper articles and radio and television reports regarding the projected outcome of races may have an effect on voters in the polling place. (State Board of Elections Policy)
Q: Where do I go to vote?
A: Voters are required to vote where they reside. If your voter registration is up-to-date, you can refer to your Voter Notification Card for your precinct number and polling place location or use the Polling Place Locator. However, if you moved (more than three weeks before the election) and did not update your voter registration information, you will need to contact your County Board of Elections to find out your proper polling place (based on your new residence address). You will be required to vote a provisional ballot at the new polling place.
Q: What time are the polls open?
A: Throughout Maryland, polls are open continuously from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Election Day. Anyone in line at 8:00 PM will be allowed to vote.
Q: How can I become a Challenger and Watcher?
A: A candidate, political party, or other group of voters supporting or opposing a candidate or issue on the ballot has the right to designate a Maryland registered voter as a challenger and watcher at each polling place. A certificate signed by the designating authority is sufficient evidence of the right of such challenger and watcher to be present in the polling room. (see Additional Information)
Q: What is a Provisional Ballot?
A: A provisional ballot is a safeguard to ensure that an individual who asserts that he or she is registered and eligible to vote will not be prevented from voting. A provisional ballot will only be counted after the Local Election Board has reviewed the provisional ballot application and determined that the individual is registered and eligible to vote. You must be eligible to receive a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot cast by a voter who was ineligible to vote provisionally may be rejected. A provisional ballot is not an alternative to the electronic voting system.
Q: What are the reasons why I may be required to vote a provisional ballot?
A: Not on the precinct register.
The most common reason that an individual's name is not on the precinct register is that the individual moved and did not update his or her voter registration. For your full provisional ballot to be counted, you must be registered in the State of Maryland and you must cast your provisional ballot in the precinct in which you currently reside.
You are unable to provide required identification.
If you are asked for identification (see "Identification" section above) and are unable or unwilling to provide it, you will be issued a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be counted if you submit one of the following forms of identification before provisional ballots are canvassed on the 1st Monday after the election:
You have not yet met the federal verification requirements.
If your voter registration application is pending because you have not met the federal verification requirements, you will be issued a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be counted if you provide:
This information must be provided before provisional ballots are canvassed on the 1st Monday after the election.
You are ineligible to vote a regular ballot.
You are ineligible to vote a regular ballot if:
Your right to vote was challenged.
Maryland law authorizes a poll watcher to challenge a voter's identity. If your identity is challenged and you are unable to provide the required identification, you will complete an affidavit to confirm your identity and be issued a provisional ballot. The challenger will also complete an affidavit indicating the basis for his or her challenge. The provisional ballot will be counted if the local board determines that you are the registered voter you claim to be and are eligible to vote.
You voted during extended election hours.
If you vote during extended election hours (i.e. a court ordered extension), you will be issued a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if the local board of elections confirms that the order extending the election was valid.
Q: What You Have to Do?
To cast a provisional ballot, you must complete the provisional ballot application (instructions will be provided by an election judge) and vote the provisional ballot provided by the election judge. Once you have voted the ballot, you will seal it inside the provisional ballot application envelope and deposit the envelope into the provisional ballot bag provided by the election judge.
Secrecy
Your ballot will remain sealed in the provisional ballot application envelope until the local board has completed its review of your application. If the board concludes that your ballot should be counted, it will be removed and separated from your application so that your vote will be kept secret.
Q: How Can I Find Out If My Ballot Was Counted Or Rejected?
You may either call 1-800-222-8683 or visit this website to find out if your provisional ballot was counted and, if not, the reason. This information will be available 10 days after the election.
Q: Must I vote for the candidates of the party that I am registered with?
A: It depends. In the primary election, you are only permitted to vote for candidates of the same party with which you are registered. In the general election, you can vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.
Q: Can someone vote without having his or her voter's card?
A: Yes, however, it is suggested that the voter have a form of identification available to show the election judges if requested.
Q: Will I be required to show identification?
A: If the following conditions apply, you will be asked to provide identification:
Q: If I am required to show identification, what forms of identification are acceptable?
A:Q: How will I cast my ballot?
A: During early voting and on Election Day, Maryland voters vote on a touchscreen voting system. Learn more about Maryland's voting system and see a live demo.
Q: Must I pay my employees for time off to vote?
A: Yes, in certain circumstances. For every election, every employer shall permit any registered voter employee a period not to exceed two hours absence from work on Election Day if the employee does not have two hours of continuous off-duty during the time that the polls are open. The employer shall pay the employee for the two hours absence from work. The employee shall furnish to the employer proof that he/she has voted.
Q: Where can I get a Voter's Guide?
A: The League of Women Voters and major newspapers may produce a guide.
In a general election, all County Board of Elections are required to send to each registered voter a specimen ballot.
Q: Can I take the Voter's Guide or specimen ballot into the voting booth with me?
Yes. You may take any written or printed material into the polling place that will assist you with marking or preparing the ballot.
Q: Can I write-in the name of a candidate?
A: Primary Election - No.
General Election - Yes.
Instructions and a listing of the candidates are posted at the polling place.