Election Day · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
How to vote in Maryland
The deadlines, early voting, mail ballots and ID rules for Maryland, and what happens after the polls close. Every fact links to the Maryland State Board of Elections or the law it comes from. Rules change, and courts sometimes change them close to an election, so confirm anything you are relying on with the state.
Checked against official sources on October 7.
Key dates
- Register online by
Tuesday, October 13
Advance registration closes 5 p.m. on the 21st day before the election (EL § 3-302(a)). Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Register by mail by
Tuesday, October 13
Postmarked by October 13: a mailed application that arrives later counts if properly postmarked and received by 8 p.m. on November 3 (EL § 3-302(c)). Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Register in person by
Tuesday, October 13
Advance registration deadline; after it, register in person at an early voting center or on Election Day at your polling place. Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Same-day registration
Yes
After October 13, unregistered people can register and vote in person at an early voting center (in their county) or at their Election Day polling place, with proof of residency. Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Early voting
Thursday, October 22 to Thursday, October 29
Second Thursday before the election (EL § 10-301.1).
- How early voting works
Early voting centers are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from October 22 through October 29, including the weekend. Vote at any early voting center in your county.
- Request a mail ballot by
Tuesday, October 27
Received (not mailed) by October 27 to have a ballot mailed (8 p.m. by mail, 11:59 p.m. online/fax/email); by October 30 to download and print it; in person at the local board through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
- Return your mail ballot by
Tuesday, November 3
Postmarked by November 3 and received by 10 a.m. on November 13; or put in a drop box, or taken to a polling place, early voting center or local board, by 8 p.m. on November 3. A ballot dropped in a mailbox on Election Day may not get that day's postmark.
- Election Day polling hours
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Eastern time.
Voting by mail
- Who can vote by mail
Any voter can vote by mail
Any registered voter. Voters can join the permanent mail-in ballot list to receive a ballot for every future federal and state election.
- Drop boxes
Yes
Drop boxes are open until 8 p.m. on Election Day; locations are in the state's 2026 general drop box list.
- Ballots arriving after Election Day
Counted if postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, November 13
Yes: ballots with a proper postmark (or dated voter's oath) count if received by 10 a.m. on November 13, the second Friday after the election (COMAR 33.11.03.08B(2)). Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
ID at the polls
- The rule
No ID needed for most voters
Md. Code, Election Law § 10-310(a)(3): the election judge establishes a voter's identity by asking for the month and day of birth and comparing it to the register. No document is required of most voters. Narrow exception: certain first-time voters who registered by mail (see summary).
- What to bring
Most voters show no ID: the election judge checks identity by asking the voter's month and day of birth. Only first-time Maryland voters who registered by mail and whose driver's license, MVA ID or Social Security number could not be verified must show ID (Help America Vote Act). Anyone registering during early voting or on Election Day brings a document proving where they live.
HAVA first-time-voter rule from the State Board's general-requirements page (an older page; the 2026 election-day page says same-day registrants bring a document proving residence).
When will we know results in Maryland?
How fast results come in depends mostly on when the polls close and when election officials are allowed to start on mail ballots. Totals shown on election night are unofficial until the state certifies them.
- Last polls close
8 p.m. Eastern time
Eastern time; the whole state is in one time zone.
- Mail ballots can be processed from
Tuesday, October 13
Local boards must begin processing (canvassing) mail-in ballots no later than 8 business days before early voting starts (EL § 11-302(b)(1)(i)). Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Mail ballots can be counted from
Tuesday, October 13
Mail-in ballots are canvassed before Election Day, but results may not be released until polls close. Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Counties finish their count by
Friday, November 13
Local boards of canvassers verify the count within 10 days and begin certifying on November 13, after the second mail-in canvass. Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- State certifies results
Thursday, December 3
Deadline for the State Board of Canvassers to certify (within 30 days after the election, EL § 11-503). Maryland State Board of Elections 2026 Gubernatorial Election Calendar.
- Automatic recount
None
No automatic recount.
- Requested recount
A candidate may petition if the margin between the top two is 5% or less of their combined votes. The petitioner pays unless the margin is 0.25% or less, or the recount gains them votes equal to 2% of the total. For state offices, the petition is due within 3 days after results are certified (December 11 per the calendar).
EL § 12-101; deadline from the 2026 calendar.
- Runoff
No general election runoff.
- Ranked-choice voting
Not used
- Votes needed to pass a ballot measure
A simple majority
Simple majority. Md. Const. art. XIV, § 1: an amendment is adopted if a majority of the votes cast at the election on that amendment are in favor. If the General Assembly finds an amendment affects only one county or Baltimore City, it also needs a majority in that county or city.
- New governor takes office
Wednesday, January 20, 2027
Md. Const. art. II, § 1: the governor's term commences on the third Wednesday of January next ensuing the election; the third Wednesday of January 2027 is January 20.
What’s on your ballot
Every contest you will vote on, from Congress to school board, with each candidate’s positions and record and the arguments for and against them.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Maryland State Board of Elections.