Goucher College Poll: Half of Marylanders Plan to Vote Via Mail-In Ballots

Nearly half of Maryland voters who plan to cast ballots in the November election say they will vote by mail by either mailing the ballot in or using a ballot drop box, according to new data from the Goucher College Poll.

The Goucher College Poll asked Maryland likely voters for their candidate preferences in the upcoming United States presidential race. Voters were also asked to rate each major party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidate and whether they planned to cast their ballots in person or by mail.

According to a Goucher College Poll press release:

Maryland likely voters are evenly divided on the method they will use to cast their ballot this November. Reflecting national trends, there is a significant divide in the method of voting along party lines.

51 percent say they will vote in-person either during early voting or on Election Day.

Among Democratic likely voters: 39 percent

Among Republican likely voters: 72 percent

48 percent say they will vote by mail by either mailing the ballot in or using a ballot drop box.

Among Democratic likely voters: 59 percent

Among Republican likely voters: 28 percent

The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) this week announced that it has shipped more than 1.1 million ballot packets to voters for the 2020 general election. As previously reported on Conduit Street, SBE has launched a webpage that will allow voters and journalists covering the election to see daily updates on the number of mail-in ballots that have been received across the state.

Applications for mail-in ballots were mailed to eligible voters in August and September. Applications must be received by local boards of elections by October 20. Voters are encouraged to leave five business days for their application to reach their local board of elections. Voters may also request a mail-in ballot via the Board’s online system by visiting elections.maryland.gov.

While state and local election officials are urging residents to vote by mail, SBE last month published a list of early voting and election day voting locations for Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City.

Early voting will be held from Monday, October 26, 2020, through Monday, November 2, 2020. Early voting and Election Day voting centers will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at any authorized voting location within their jurisdiction of residence.

The Goucher College Poll was conducted from September 30 to October 4, 2020, and surveyed 1,002 Maryland adults of which 776 were identified as likely voters. The sample of 776 likely voters has a margin of sampling error of +/-3.5 percent.

The Goucher College Poll is conducted under the auspices of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College. The center is directed by Dr. Mileah Kromer, associate professor of political science.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.

Useful Links

Goucher College Poll

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