As both a civic right and responsibility for those who are eligible, voting plays a vital role in allowing citizens to elect officials who reflect their values. Voting is a crucial element of the democratic process at the local, state, and federal levels. At the University of Maryland Global Campus, we support our students by providing information and tools to help them fulfill their civic duty of voting.
2026 Elections
The 2026 elections include races at the national, state, and local levels. All 435 U.S. House seats and 35 U.S. Senate seats will be on the ballot, along with 39 gubernatorial races. Voters will also elect thousands of state and local officials, including state legislators, mayors, city council members, school board members, and judges. In total, more than 53,000 elections will take place nationwide. Visit the FAQ sections on Maryland Voters and Out-of-State voters to learn how you can how you can vote.
Volunteer on Election Day
Election volunteer opportunities are available in Maryland and out-of-state. Many of these opportunities are paid. Learn how you can sign up to work the polls on Election Day in Maryland or out-of-state.
Maryland Voting FAQs
As a Maryland resident, you can learn more about the voting options available to you. Get answers to questions about voter registration, process, deadlines, mail-in voting, and more.
- Primary Election Day: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
- General Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Deadline to Change Party Affiliation:
- June 2, 2026 → for the Primary Election
You can also access the full Maryland 2026 election calendar online for other important elections.
Maryland uses closed primaries, so you generally must be registered as a Democrat or Republican to vote for a party’s primary races, which matters because primaries decide which candidates appear on the general election ballot. Unaffiliated voters may vote in nonpartisan primary races like school board. You can change party affiliation except when voter registration is closed. If you’ll be 18 years old by the general election, you may vote in the primary.
Always confirm eligibility, deadlines, and voting options through official election sources such as CanIVote.org or Ballotpedia.
First, read about Maryland voter registration eligibility on the state board of elections website. This page also has information about eligibility to vote in Maryland if you are a U.S. citizen living overseas or are in the military.
Use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) to register to vote in Maryland or submit a voter registration application in person at a number of different locations.
You can also register to vote in-person during early voting and on election day. To prove where you live, bring your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and address.
You can check if you’re registered to vote in Maryland on the state's Board of Elections website.
State and local elections can happen within any year and often occur outside of major federal election cycles. To find out if there’s an election in your area this year:
- Gubernatorial Elections: View the schedule by state for upcoming governor races at NGA’s 2026 Governor Elections list.
- State and Local Elections: For city, county, school board, and other local elections, check with your state or local election office or visit the U.S. Vote Foundation for a complete list of dates and deadlines.
- You can also explore NextElections.org or Ballotpedia’s Local Elections Calendar for a detailed breakdown of upcoming municipal elections.
You can learn about candidates by reviewing nonpartisan voter guides, candidate websites, and public statements. Resources like Ballotpedia and Vote 411 provide candidate backgrounds, policy positions, and election details. Local election offices may also share sample ballots and candidate information.
Any registered voter may vote by mail-in ballot. You do not need an extenuating reason or circumstance to do so. It is simply another way to vote if you do not want or cannot go to an early voting center or your polling place.
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. You can request your mail-in ballot online.
- Complete and return one of the PDF forms provided by the Maryland State Board of Elections available under the How do I request my mail-in ballot? dropdown item. 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.
You should request your mail-in ballot as early as possible, ideally several weeks before Election Day. The earlier you request it, the more time you’ll have to complete and return it on time.
Typical Deadlines to Request Your Ballot
Deadlines vary by state, but here’s a general guideline:
- By mail or fax: Requests are usually due about 7–12 days before Election Day.
- By email or online (to print at home): Requests may be accepted up to 3–5 days before Election Day, depending on your state.
- You may request a Maryland Mail-in Ballot on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.
If you miss the deadline to receive your ballot by mail, you may still be able to apply in-person at your local election office.
* Please note that a ballot received via the internet must still be returned by hand, by mail, or dropped at a ballot drop off box.
Under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 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 absentee voting in the military or from abroad.
You can choose to receive your mail-in ballot by mail or email. If you choose to receive your ballot by email, you will receive an email with a link that will allow you to print and mail your ballot.
After completing your ballot, you must mail or hand-deliver it. Marylanders can use a ballot drop box to return their mail-in ballot. Ballot drop boxes will be open until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Visit the State Board of Elections website to find information on ballot drop box locations. You cannot submit your voted ballot online, by email, or by fax.
If you have specific questions, please contact your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections.
Track your ballot online on the Maryland Board of Elections website.
If for some reason you don't receive your ballot or are not able to fill it out and return it on time, you may cast a provisional ballot in person on Election Day. This ballot will not be counted until nine days after Election Day, upon verification that you only cast one ballot.
In Maryland, if you vote in person, you will fill in a paper ballot by pen. You can also mark your ballot electronically. Election workers will be there to help you scan in your vote and assist with any questions. You must, however, cast your vote alone unless you are unable to do so due to a disability or you are unable to read or write in English.
Visit the state's Board of Elections website to get more information about Maryland voting rules and regulations.
In order to vote in Maryland on Election Day, you must be a Maryland resident who is registered to vote. If you are not a Maryland registered voter, you should plan ahead to request an absentee ballot from your home state by their set deadlines. Find out further information on how to request a mail-in ballot in your home state.
If you are at home on Election Day, in the state where you’re registered to vote, you may vote there on Election Day. Find out more information about Election Day in your state.
Additional Maryland & General Voting Resources
Out-of-State Voting FAQs
Learn about the voting options available to you as an out-of-state resident. Find sources of information about voter registration, process, deadlines, mail-in voting, and more.
Learn how to register so you can vote in federal, state, and local elections.
You can also check to see if you're registered to vote in your state.
The voter registration deadline varies by state. Learn about your state's registration process.
Find your state's locations and dates for early and Election Day voting.
State and local elections can happen within any year and often occur outside of major federal election cycles. To find out if there’s an election in your area this year:
- Gubernatorial Elections: View the schedule by state for upcoming governor races at NGA’s 2026 Governor Elections list.
- State and Local Elections: For city, county, school board, and other local elections, check with your state or local election office or visit the U.S. Vote Foundation for a complete list of dates and deadlines.
- You can also explore NextElections.org or Ballotpedia’s Local Elections Calendar for a detailed breakdown of upcoming municipal elections.
If you will not be in your home state on Election Day, you should plan ahead to request a mail-in or absentee ballot from your home state by their set deadlines. You can also check your state’s early voting period to see if you would be in your home state to vote then.
Find out how to request a mail-in ballot in your home state.
Election timelines—such as primary dates, registration deadlines, and earlyvoting periods—vary widely by state, so it’s important to check your specific state rules. You can find statewide election deadlines and schedules through your state’s official election website or other trusted nonpartisan sources. To learn more about important statewide election dates on USA.gov and on Ballotpedia.org.
To participate in a primary election, you must register to vote by the deadline. Your ballot will be dependent on your state’s party affiliation requirements, such as which party primaries you can participate in. Learn more or update your party affiliation on USA.gov. Voting options may include in-person, mail, or early voting, depending on your state. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines, and voting options through official election sources such as CanIVote.org or Ballotpedia.
You can learn about candidates by reviewing nonpartisan voter guides, candidate websites, and public statements. Resources like Ballotpedia and Vote 411 provide candidate backgrounds, policy positions, and election details. Local election offices may also share sample ballots and candidate information.