Skip to main content
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.

Election Information

Check Your Voter Status

Use this secure tool provided by the Maryland State Board of Elections to review your voter registration record, find a polling place, see your mail-in ballot status and request a duplicate voter registration card.

Maryland Board of Elections Voter Lookup

Request a Mail-in Ballot

If you are registered to vote in Maryland, you can use this system to request a mail-in ballot. Note: this form may not support mobile browsers. Provided by the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Maryland Board of Elections Mail-in Ballot Request

Skip BH - Election Maryland Accordion widget
Am I eligible to register to vote?

To register to vote, you must be:

  • A U.S. citizen;
  • A Maryland resident; and
  • At least 16 years old*.

You cannot have been:

  • Convicted of buying or selling votes;
  • Under guardianship for mental disability and found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote; or
  • Convicted of a felony and currently serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment. (Effective March 10, 2016)

*You may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old but cannot vote unless you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election.

Can I register to vote if I am in the military or live overseas?

Certain U.S. citizens who live overseas or are in the military are eligible to register and vote in Maryland. If you are an overseas citizen, military personnel, or dependent of military personnel, you may register to vote in Maryland if your current or last U.S. residence was in Maryland. To register, you can use the Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or use the Federal Post Card Application available at www.fvap.gov.

Can I register to vote if I have been convicted of a crime?

Effective March 10, 2016, if you have been convicted of a felony, you are eligible to register to vote once you have completed the court-ordered sentence of imprisonment. For the purposes of eligibility to register to vote, convictions include federal, state and out-of-state convictions.

You are not eligible to vote if you have been convicted of buying or selling votes.

When may I apply to register to vote?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or submit a voter registration application to your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections at any time. However, an application must be postmarked by the voter registration deadline in order to vote in the next scheduled election. If you submit a voter registration application during the period that registration is closed, your application will be held at the local board of elections and processed when registration reopens.

You can also register to vote on election day. To make the voting process quicker for you, we encourage you to register to vote by the close of voter registration.

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 new address.

If you do not know the assigned polling place or vote center for where you live, use Maryland's Polling Place Locator.

Where may I apply to register to vote?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) to register to vote or, you may complete a voter registration application in person at:

You can also register to vote on Election Day. To make the voting process quicker for you, we encourage you to register to vote by the close of voter registration.

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 new address.

If you do not know the assigned polling place or vote center for where you live, use our Polling Place Locator.

May I apply to register to vote online or by mail?

Yes. You may register to vote online using Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or you may print an application from our website or contact your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections to request an application.

What information do I need to provide on the application?

In addition to basic identifying information, federal law requires that you provide on your voter registration application a Maryland driver’s license number or MVA ID Card number or, if you do not have a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID Card, the last four digits of your social security number. Your application will NOT be processed unless you provide this information or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that you do not have a Maryland driver’s license, MVA ID Card, or social security number.

How do I affiliate with a political party?

You have the option to register with any of Maryland’s recognized political parties. If you choose not to register with a party, you will be registered as “unaffiliated.” If registered as unaffiliated, you will generally not be able to vote in primary elections, but you will be able to vote in any nonpartisan primary election held in your jurisdiction, such as a primary election to select nominees for the board of education, and any general election.

If your application is complete, you are considered a registered voter. If you do not receive a Voter Notification Card three weeks after you submit an application, you should contact your local board of elections. You can also verify whether you are registered to vote by visiting our voter services website.

Registration is permanent as long as you continue to live in Maryland and keep your name and address current. You do not have to re-register when you move within the State.

How do I update my name and address?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) to update your name and address or you can notify the local board of elections where you currently live if your voter registration information has changed. If you complete a change of address form at the MVA, this information will be sent to your local board of elections for processing, unless you indicate that you do not want to change your voter registration information. You can also send changes on a voter registration application or on any signed written notice.

While you may be able to change your address during early voting, we encourage you to make this change before the close of voter registration. Your voting process will be quicker if you update it before this deadline. If you can't do it before the election, go to an early voting center in the county where you live. An election official will process your change of address.

If you do not receive a Voter Notification Card with your updated information three weeks after you submit information, you should contact the local board of elections where you now live to ensure that your records are up-to-date. You can also verify whether the local board of elections has your new information by visiting our voter service website.

What should I do if I move to another county within the State or to Baltimore City?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or immediately provide your new address to the local board of elections in your new jurisdiction.

May I change parties?

Yes. To change your party affiliation you can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or submit a new voter registration application or a signed written request to your local board of elections. 

What parties are recognized in Maryland?

PGCMLS Online Resources

Civics: Why Voting Matters

  • usa.gov/voting - Find answers to common questions about voting in the United States.
  • League of Women Voters - Our mission is to educate voters. We host hundreds of events and programs every year to educate voters about candidates in thousands of federal, state and local races, as well as distribute millions of educational materials about state and local elections.
  • National Education Association - In today’s world, informed voting and voter rights are as important as ever. NEA believes this education begins in the classroom, helping to cultivate well informed and educated students – students who are then confident and ready when it is their turn to take their place in the voting community. In support of the effort, the following resources have been collected to help guide the lesson as educators begin to instruct students on the struggles that led to the rights all are currently afforded.
  • fivethirtyeight.com - Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight uses statistical analysis — hard numbers — to tell compelling stories about politics, sports, science, economics and culture. The site's Election Forecast section is updated every time new polling data is made available.
  • fairfight.com - Fairfight’s mission is to promote fair elections around the country, encourage voter participation, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights.
  • Why vote? TED-Ed's election roundup - The right to vote is lauded as one of the most important civic responsibilities a citizen can exercise. Discover how your individual vote contributes to the popular vote and your state’s electoral vote in different ways–and see how votes are counted on both state and national levels.
  • Rock the Vote - Register to Vote, Find Election Info, and More! - Rock the Vote is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people. For 30 years, Rock the Vote has revolutionized the way we use pop culture, music, art, and technology to engage young people in politics and build our collective power.