Maryland’s June 2 presidential primary election will be conducted by mail. The process is free, safe, easy, and secure.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Hogan last month ordered Maryland’s presidential primary election be conducted by mail, with limited in-person voting sites across the state. This approach will ensure voters can exercise their fundamental right to vote while also safeguarding the public’s health during this pandemic.
The process is free, safe, easy, and secure. Voters simply mark their ballot, sign the oath on the envelope, and make sure their ballot is postmarked before 8:00 pm on June 2nd. Voters can also drop their ballots are designated drop boxes in each county, or vote by in person on election day if they cannot vote by mail.
Click here for a list of In-person voting centers and ballot drop-off locations.
Vote By Mail: An Instructional Video:
The Maryland State Board of Elections has compiled a list of commonly asked questions about the upcoming primary election and guidance for residents on how to vote safely and conveniently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the date for the 2020 Presidential Primary Election?
Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
Your ballot has “April 28, 2020” printed at the top due to insufficient time to reprint the ballots after the presidential primary election date was changed to June 2nd due to the coronavirus. The April date does not affect your ballot being counted. Your ballot will be counted for the June 2, 2020 Presidential Primary Election if it is postmarked by June 2nd.
What is the safest way to vote?
To reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail. The State Board of Elections will mail ballots to all eligible voters. No postage is needed to return your ballot – you will get a postage-paid return envelope with your ballot.
Do voters need to request a ballot?
No. The State Board of Elections will mail ballots to all eligible active voters.
- If an eligible voter does not receive a ballot in the mail, they may submit a request to absentee.SBE@maryland.gov or call 1-800-222-8683.
When will ballots arrive in voters’ mailboxes?
Ballots will start arriving in mailboxes in early May and continue arriving until mid-May.
- If an eligible voter does not receive a ballot in the mail, they may submit a request to absentee.SBE@maryland.gov or call 1-800-222-8683.
If a voter has requested a ballot, does the voter need to request another ballot?
No. All eligible voters will receive a ballot for the 2020 Presidential Primary Election.
What is the deadline by which voters must mail in their voted ballots?
Voted ballots must be postmarked on or before June 2, 2020.
What if a voter can’t vote by mail?
If a voter cannot vote by mail, there will be at least one voting location in each county and Baltimore City. The voting locations will be open on June 2nd from 7 am to 8 pm. The locations are posted on the State Board of Elections’ website.
If a voter has already requested an absentee ballot, does the voter need to do anything?
No. The voter will receive a ballot in the mail.
How do voters know if they are registered to vote?
If you aren’t sure if you are registered, or at what address, check your voter registration status by visiting our voter services site. If you do not have internet access, call 1-800-222-8683 and ask a State Board of Elections representative to check your registration.
What kind of identification is required to cast a ballot by mail?
If you are a registered voter and voted before, no identification is required to receive or submit a ballot by mail. A very small number of newly registered voters may need to provide ID with their voted ballots. If you have to provide ID, there will be instructions with your ballot.
Can voters register to vote online?
It is possible to register to vote in Maryland elections online, click here to find out more information. The deadline was Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
Is identification required to register to vote?
No, but you must provide some information so election officials can verify your identity.
If you use the State Board’s online system to register, you must enter your Maryland driver’s license number or Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) issued state ID number, the date MVA issued your license or ID card, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you reside outside of the United States or are a member of the military or spouse or dependent of a member of the military, you must enter the last 4 digits of your US social security number. If you provide a license or State ID number, your signature on file with the MVA will become your official voter registration signature. If you provide a social security number, it will be used as your official voter registration signature.
If you use the paper application to register, you must also provide your Maryland driver’s license number or MVA-issued state ID number if you have one. If you don’t have one, you must provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have either number, check box 6c. If you check box 6c, you might be required to show ID before voting for the first time.
How will voters know that their ballots will be counted?
You can check that your ballot was counted by visiting our voter services site. If you do not have internet access, call 1-800-222-8683 and ask a State Board of Elections representative to check the status of your voted ballot. The information will be posted about 10 days after the election.
How do voters update their address?
Give the local board of elections where you currently live your new address information. You can use the voter registration application to make the change, or you can submit in writing your new address. Voters must update their address with their local board of elections. For instructions on updating your address, please click here. The deadline to update your information was Wednesday, May 27th.
What do the numbers and scan codes on my vote by mail envelope mean?
Outgoing (Carrier) Envelope
- The barcode above the voter’s name is the IMB barcode for the voter’s address. The USPS uses this to track ballots.
- The several QR barcodes on the right side are barcodes the mail house uses to make sure the correct ballot style is being used for the correct voter.
Ballot
- The QR barcode on the top left of the ballot is used by the mail house. That is how they tie our data file (which has the ballot style for the voter) to the ballot style in their system.
Return (Reply) Envelope
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- The barcode is how each of the local boards receives that ballot into our voter registration system. They are able to scan that barcode and the ballot is “received” for the voter. The barcode is the voter’s tracking number for that ballot.
- The numbers printed below that barcode is the human-readable data in that barcode. We have had instances where the barcode could not be read by the scanners being used, so it’s another way for the staff to manually enter the information into our voter registration system.
- The picture below describes what each number is.
For further questions, please visit www.elections.maryland.gov or contact the State Board at 1-800-222-8683.
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