Annapolis— In conjunction with National Voter Registration Day, the Maryland State Board of Elections reminds all eligible Marylanders who have not yet registered to vote in the November 3 general election to do so. The deadline to register is October 13, 2020.
Those who have not yet registered can do so online using Maryland’s Online Voter Registration System or by submitting a voter registration application to their local board of elections or the Maryland State Board of Elections. Marylanders using the online registration system must complete the registration process no later than 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 13 in order to vote in the general election. Those who choose to send registration applications by mail must ensure the applications are postmarked no later than Oct. 13 in order to vote in the general election.
Same-day registration will also be offered to those Marylanders who choose to vote in person during early voting (Monday, October 26 to Monday, November 2) or on Election Day, November 3.
The Maryland Board of Elections encourages those who are already registered to go online and verify their voter information is accurate and up to date.
Every year, millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration, or aren’t certain how to register. National Voter Registration Day was created in 2012 to help address the issue, serving as a nonpartisan rallying point to help eligible voters across the country register and give them the option to participate in the democratic process. Since then, nearly 3 million citizens have registered to vote on the holiday, which takes place every year on the fourth Tuesday of September.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland State Board of Elections is encouraging voters to cast their ballots by mail. Applications for mail-in ballots have been sent via first-class U.S. Mail to eligible Maryland voters. Applications must be received by October 20. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters by first-class U.S. Mail beginning in late September and continuing in October.
In addition to voting by mail or in person during early voting or on Election Day, Maryland voters can cast their ballots at authorized ballot drop box locations around the state. Locations will begin opening roughly 30 days prior to Election Day. Once open, the ballot drop boxes will remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2020.