Governor Larry Hogan today postponed Maryland’s presidential primary election scheduled for April 28 due to concerns over the COVID-19 epidemic. The presidential primary will take place on June 2.

Early voting will be conducted from May 21 through May 28. The new deadline to request an absentee ballot for the presidential primary election is May 26 if a voter wants to receive a ballot by mail, or May 29 if a voter wants to receive the ballot electronically. Voted ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Local election officials have expressed concerns over the safety of voters, election judges, and other poll workers due to the rapidly spreading virus. There is also concern that the outbreak could potentially lessen turnout as Marylanders are urged to practice “social distancing.”

The special general election to fill the late Rep. Elijah Cummings’s congressional seat in Maryland’s Seventh District will still take place on April 28, but will be conducted via mail.

“It is imperative that the people of the Seventh District have a voice in the House of Representatives,” Governor Hogan said. “We are directing the State Board of Elections to develop vote by mail system for the Seventh Congressional District race only.”

The Seventh Congressional District includes parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County. There are approximately 510,000 registered voters in the Seventh Congressional District. Almost half of the voters in the Seventh Congressional District live in Baltimore City (214,000 voters). Approximately 142,000 voters in this district live in Baltimore County, and approximately 127,000 live in Howard County.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.