Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot: Must be received by October 20, 2020
Deadline to Submit a Mail-In Ballot: Postmarked on or before Election Day
(November 3, 2020) and received by 10 AM on November 13, 2020
All eligible voters have the right to vote-by-mail.
Voters must be registered to vote by October 13 if they want to vote by mail. Otherwise voters will have to register and vote in person to vote in the November 2020 election. In light of the pandemic, all active registered voters will be mailed an absentee ballot application for the November 2020 election.
Applications must be submitted by October 20, by either using the form you received by mail or:
The request must include the following:
To request a mail-in ballot online, generally, the voter must provide:
Voter’s can choose to have their blank ballot delivered to them by mail, fax, internet, or in person.
Applications for mail-in ballots must be received by voters’ local Board of Elections by October 20, 2020.
Yes, voters may designate an agent to pick up and deliver an absentee or mail-in ballot on the voter’s behalf. Qualified agents must be: (a) at least 18 years old; (b) not a candidate on the ballot they’re assisting procure; (c) designated by the voter in writing; and (d) executes an affidavit under penalty of perjury that ballot was delivered to the voter who submitted the application, marked and placed the ballot in an envelope by the voter, and returned to the local board by the agent.
You must have this form completed.
Absentee/mail-in ballots may be returned by placing the marked ballot in the specially printed, pre-paid envelope supplied by the Election Board with the ballot, and submitting it by:
Absentee ballots sent to voters by Internet or fax should be provided with an envelope template, the oath prescribed by the State Board of Elections, and instructions for marking and returning the ballot.
Maryland law does not specifically address general assistance with ballot return. Voters who need assistance completing their ballots due to disability, inability to read or write can get assistance with marking their ballot, provided that the person assisting the voter executes a certification that they’ve followed state law.
The only people who can’t help a voter are:
If a voter needs help completing the mail-in ballot application, someone can help with Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the application and must complete Part 4. If a voter cannot sign the application, the person helping the voter should print the voter’s name in Part 3 and write their initials after the voter’s name.
If a voter needs help voting their ballot, the person helping the voter must mark the ballot according to the voter’s wishes and cannot make an effort to influence their vote. This person must also complete
the Certification of Person Assisting mail-in Voter (provided with the mail-in ballot). This certification must be returned with the voted ballot.
Contact the local board of elections for more information on this process.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used onlyas a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensedMaryland legal professional.
Last updated October 2020
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