The Maryland State Board of Elections yesterday announced that more than 161,000 Marylanders cast their ballots during the first day of early voting, setting a new single-day record for early voting in the state. The total surpassed the previous unofficial single-day early voting record of 143,494, which was set on the final day of early voting in the 2016 general election.
“We’re extremely pleased that Marylanders are turning out in record numbers to exercise their right to vote,” said Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Linda Lamone. “Today’s record-setting total is in addition to the more than 1.6 million voters who requested a mail-in ballot and the roughly 830,000 who have already submitted them. We are equally pleased that nearly 1,000 people took advantage of same-day registration today in order to cast their ballots.”
Early voting will continue through November 2, 2020. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at any authorized early voting center within their jurisdiction of residence. Each early voting center will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, and anyone in line by 8:00 pm will be allowed to vote.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3, 2020, and properly submitted ballots will be accepted through November 13, 2020.
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections:
Voters who have already requested a ballot should vote the ballot they receive in the mail. Voters simply complete the ballot, sign the oath on the postage-paid return envelope that accompanies the ballot, seal the envelope and submit it by mail or at an approved ballot drop box location.
Voters may not “trade in” their mail-in ballot during early voting or on Election Day, nor can they scan their mail-in ballot at an in-person vote center. If a voter has already requested or received a mail-in ballot and wants to vote early, the voter will have to cast a provisional ballot. This ballot will be held until election officials confirm the voter did not also return a mail-in ballot. This process ensures only one ballot per voter is counted.
Voters may drop off a mail-in ballot at an early voting center, but the ballot must be properly sealed in the return envelope that accompanied the mail-in ballot. Voters must sign the oath on the return envelope in order for the ballot to be counted.
Questions about voting in the 2020 general election? Conduit Street has compiled a list of commonly asked questions and guidance for residents on how to vote safely and conveniently amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
