Check Your Mailbox: Mail-In Ballot Applications Are on the Way

The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) yesterday announced that all eligible voters were sent a mail-in ballot application for the November 3 general election. The applications come with a postage-paid return envelope to make it easy and free for voters to request ballots.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, SBE voted unanimously to request additional state funding to pay for mail-in ballot applications. The additional funding — which must be approved by the Department of Budget and Management — would alleviate a significant unfunded mandate on county governments.

While there are multiple ways to participate in the 2020 Presidential Election, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SBE is encouraging all eligible Marylanders to cast mail-in ballots. Voting by mail is a safe and secure way of voting.

To cast mail-in ballots, Maryland residents must request a mail-in ballot from the State Board of Elections or their local board of elections. Some voters who requested a ballot prior to August 6 may still receive a ballot application in the mail.

These voters should go online to verify their application has been processed. It is not necessary to send in two ballot requests.

Any eligible voter who does not automatically receive a ballot application by mail may request a ballot online or by printing and returning by mail or fax the request form on the SBE website. All requests for a mail-in ballot must be received by Oct. 20, 2020.

When requesting a ballot by mail, voters should leave at least five business days for the United States Postal Service to deliver the application to the local board of elections. Mail-in ballots will be sent via first-class mail to the address the voter provides on the ballot request.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election and to verify voter registration information online is October 13. Voters wishing to register to vote or to check their registration status should visit this webpage.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.

Useful Links

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Board OKs MACo’s Request for Additional State Funding for Mail-In Ballot Applications

Senator Kagan’s Letter to the State Board of Elections (August 14, 2020)

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: State to Provide More Ballot Drop Boxes, Allow for Earlier Canvassing of Mail-In Ballots

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: MACo on General Election: State Should Pay Extra Ballot Costs

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: State Board to Governor: Designate All High Schools as Vote Centers On Election Day

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Local Officials Make Final Appeal to Avoid “Catastrophic Failure” on Election Day

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Hogan Demands Update on Mail-In Ballots, Polling Places for Nov Election

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Local Election Directors: Emergency Pollworker Shortage Will Lead to Long Lines, Voter Confusion

Letter from MAEO (July 23, 2020)

Conduit Street Podcast: Wrestling With Reopening