Voting Information

Find out more about voting.

Finding your information

You can go to the Maryland Voter Information System (sponsored by the State Board of Elections and University of Maryland, Baltimore) and find out:

if you're registered
what voting districts you're in
where your polling place is
a map and directions to your polling place
your sample ballot

Visit http://mdelections.umbc.edu/voter_registration/v2/vote_prod.php

Primary Elections in Maryland

Maryland is a closed primary state, which means that voters registered as Democrats may vote only for Democratic candidates, and voters registered as Republicans may vote only for Republican candidates.

The two other recognized political parties in Maryland (Libertarians and Greens) choose their candidates by other methods so they do not appear on the primary ballots. Therefore, third party and unaffiliated candidates are not included in this 2008 Primary guide. They will be included in the General Election Guide this fall.

Maryland law prohibits write-in candidates in the primary election. Candidates for Judge of the Circuit Court appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Candidates in the Primaries

Q: What Candidates are on the Primary Ballot?
A: Democrats, Republicans, School Board, and Judges of the Circuit Court. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party choose their candidates at other times. Candidates unaffilliated with any party do not compete in primaries.
Maryland law prohibits write-in candidates in the primary election.
Candidates for Judge of the Circuit Court are bi-partisan and will appear on both the Democratic and Republican Ballots.
Candidates for School Board are in a non-partisan race.
Only candidates who will appear on the ballot are included in this Voters' Guide.

17-year-olds can vote in ALL Primary Elections

Anyone who will be 18 on or before the November 4th General Election may register to vote, and then vote in a primary on 12 February 2008. As of February 8, you CAN vote in the non-partisan election for the Board of Education.

Voter Registration closed at 9 p.m. on Jan 22, 2008.

From the Maryland Court of Appeals

PER CURIAM ORDER

For reasons to be stated in an opinion later to be filed, it is this 8th day of February, 2008

ORDERED, by the Court of Appeals of Maryland, that the Order dated February 1, 2008 of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in this matter be, and the same is hereby, vacated; and it is further

ORDERED, that this matter be, and the same is hereby, remanded to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County with directions to enter a new Order and Declaratory Judgment
not inconsistent with the following determinations:

The provisions of Article I, Section 1 of the Maryland Constitution apply to primary elections conducted in Maryland.
The foregoing notwithstanding, the voter eligibility provisions of Article I, Section 1 are not in conflict with the age provisions of Md. Code, Election Law Article, Section 3-102. Article I, Section 1 does not operate to prohibit The General Assembly from establishing the age provisions in Section 3-102.
All 17-year-old registered voters who will be 18 on or before the November 4, 2008 general election, shall be entitled to vote in the primary elections to be held on February 12, 2008, including non-partisan elections for county boards of education.
The foregoing notwithstanding, such 17-year-old voters may not vote in any special or municipal election conducted concurrent with the February 12, 2008 primary election.
The State Board of Elections may use provisional ballots in the February 12, 2008 primary elections for all 17-year-old voters who will be 18 on or before the November 4, 2008 general election; and it is further

ORDERED, that the judgment be entered on the respective motions for summary judgment consistent with the above declarations. Mandate to issue forthwith.

Who can vote for which candidate?

Maryland is a closed primary state, which means that only voters registered as Democrats may vote for Democratic candidates, and only voters registered as Republicans may vote for Republican candidates. All registered voters, including those without party affiliation, may vote for the candidates in non-partisan Board of Education contests. Only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans may vote for candidates for Circuit Court Judge.

Registering to Vote

You can download an application to register to vote from the web at
http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/application.html
You may also contact your local Board of Elections for a registration form.

Voter Registration is closed for a period of three weeks before an election until two weeks after an election.

Ballot Order in Presidential Elections

Ballot order is determined by the Board of Elections and follows this pattern in Presidential Elections:
- executive offices (President and V. Pres)
- legislative offices (US Sen, US Rep)
- County Commissioners (Cecil County only)
- Judicial Offices (Circuit Court, Appellate Courts)
- Convention Delegates (Primary only)
- Boards of Education (Allegany, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Washington, Worcester)

The order in which candidates are listed follows this pattern:
- Party (Party of the Governor first, followed by other parties organized by number of registered voters)
- Candidates, alphabetically by Last Name