Maryland presidential primary Election Day is next month, and here's what you need to know
In this year’s presidential primary election, names at the top of ballots for the nation’s top office may be familiar, but less apparent may be other choices or the several ways to cast a vote.
Who to vote for in Maryland's primary election?
The answer to that question is totally up to you. In Maryland, there are party primary elections, meaning that generally one can only vote for candidates in the party for which they are registered. The deadline to change party affiliation for this year’s primary is Tuesday, April 23.
What offices am I voting for in Maryland's primary election?
The answer that question depends somewhat on the county or jurisdiction where one resides.
Generally, the primary ballot includes: President of the United States, U.S. Senator, Representative in Congress and delegates to a party’s convention (often with the name of the presidential candidate that the delegate has pledged to support at the convention underneath).
Other offices may include: Judge of the Circuit Court and Board of Education.
A copy of the ballot for your jurisdiction can be found online at the State Board of Elections website. Each party’s ballot in each county is also available on the state board’s website.
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When do I vote in Maryland? That depends on the method.
The answer to that question is somewhat up to you. You have about a month to decide.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In-person early voting begins Thursday, May 2, 2024, and ends Thursday, May 9, 2024, according to a State Board of Elections press release. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Requests for a mail-in ballot must be submitted online or at your local board of elections by Tuesday, May 7, 2024, according to the release.
Mail-in ballots must be returned by mail postmarked by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. They can also be returned to the local board of elections or to a drop box by May 14 at 8 p.m.
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Where do I vote? Here's how to find your polling place.
Residents vote in the jurisdiction where they are registered to vote. If you are not yet registered to vote, you can do so online at the State Board of Elections website or in-person at your local board of elections office.
In-person, day-of registration requires documentation and can be done at your polling place.
A tool to find your polling place can be found online at the State Board of Elections website.
There are also 286 drop boxes for mail-in ballots across the state of Maryland.
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Why vote? Find out what Lincoln said.
“Whether voting early in person, voting by mail, or voting at their local polling place on Primary Election Day, I encourage every Marylander to familiarize themselves with the important election deadlines to ensure their voices are heard,” said State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis, in an April release, days after the first mail-in ballots were sent.
A quoteattributed to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and the final months of his second run for the presidency conveyed the reason for voting or not with a bit more feeling.
“It is the people’s business, — the election is in their hands,” he said. “If they turn their backs to the fire, and get scorched in the rear, they’ll find they have got to ‘sit’ on the ‘blister’!”
Dwight A. Weingarten is an investigative reporter, covering the Maryland State House and state issues. He can be reached at dweingarten@gannett.com or on Twitter at @DwightWeingart2.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Voting in Maryland: What to know for the 2024 presidential primary.
