Mail-In Ballot Replacement Information

updated 06/01/2026

Information for 2026 Mail-in Voters

Due to an error in the printing process, some voters received the incorrect party ballot for the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election. This error affects only voters who were mailed a ballot before May 14, 2026. All affected voters were mailed a replacement ballot beginning on May 22, 2026.

How to know if you were affected and will receive a replacement ballot

You received two ballots and the second ballot says "REPLACEMENT BALLOT INSIDE" on the envelope (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] and has a letter (PDF) [English/español (PDF)]
Voters who requested a ballot for the Gubernatorial Primary on or before 5/13 and received a ballot in the mail that has the words "Replacement Ballot" on the return envelope (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] and a letter (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] entitled "Attention Voter!" enclosed..
Voters who requested to be permanent mail-in voters("to receive mail in ballots for all future elections") on or before May 13, 2026 and received a ballot.
All affected voters will receive a postcard (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] from SBE, and those who have selected email as their preferred choice for correspondence in their voter record will also receive a notification by email.
If a voter requested and received their mail-in ballot by web delivery (Print at Home ballot), their ballot will not be affected and no replacement ballot is needed.

How to know which ballot you receive

The original ballot sent to voters did not have the words "REPLACEMENT BALLOT INSIDE" on the envelope and does not have a letter entitled "Attention Voter!"
The replacement ballot has the words "REPLACEMENT BALLOT INSIDE" on the envelope (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] and has a letter (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] entitled "Attention Voter!" enclosed.
The replacement ballot return envelope has the words "REPLACEMENT ENVELOPE" on the envelope [English/español (PDF)].

When replacement ballots will arrive

Replacement ballots were mailed beginning May 22, 2026 and mailing was completed on May 27, 2026. The replacement ballots should begin arriving May 26–31, 2026.

Voting Your Replacement Ballot

Vote the ballot received in the envelope (PDF) [English/español (PDF)] marked "REPLACEMENT BALLOT INSIDE" and return it in the return envelope [English/español (PDF)] marked "REPLACEMENT ENVELOPE".
Do not mark and return the ballot received in your first ballot packet, please destroy that ballot and envelopes.

Delay in processing current requests for a mail-in ballot

If you requested a mail-in ballot after May 13, there will be a slight delay in processing. Those requests will not be processed until all replacement ballots have been sent to voters. They will be mailed, starting June 3, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my first voted ballot if it was returned?

Your local election office is able to identify the original ballots and secure them. These ballots have been voided in our voter registration system that is used to track and receive ballots. You should mark and return the replacement ballot to ensure you vote the correct ballot and that your ballot is counted.

According to news stories and press releases, my first mail-in ballot was voided. What does that mean?

Voided is an operational term that describes the status of a ballot in our voter registration system. It is not a description of the legal status of the ballot. SBE has existing safeguards in place to make sure that only one ballot is counted for each voter. Mail-In Voting is managed by our voter registration system. This system tracks all ballots that are issued to voters. It has safeguards in place to ensure that only one ballot is counted per voter. In order to be counted, or canvassed, a ballot needs to be "received" by scanning the barcode on the voter's return envelopes. If a voter gets a ballot and has a replacement ballot issued, the first ballot is "voided" so it cannot be received into the voter registration system. This ensures each voter can only have one ballot counted. Due to the error in printing, all original ballots were voided. This means that operationally, they cannot be received into the voter registration system and allows the LBE to identify and store these ballots separately. The legal status of these ballots will be determined during canvass, based on guidance provided by the State Board.

What should I do with my first ballot packet if I haven't returned it yet?

You should discard or destroy your first ballot packet. You will receive a replacement ballot packet and should vote the replacement ballot.

Is there a risk of duplicate voting because of this error?

No. There is no risk of duplicate voting as a result of this issue. Election officials have safeguards in place to ensure that only one ballot can be accepted per voter. Every return envelope/oath has a unique identifier to ensure that a voter can only vote one ballot. SBE has implemented additional safeguards to ensure only the correct ballot is counted for each voter.

I received the wrong party affiliation ballot in my first ballot packet, can I vote that ballot and my correct party affiliation ballot in my second ballot packet?

No. Your first ballot was the incorrect party ballot and has been voided in the registration database.

How do I know if I voted the right ballot?

You will receive additional instructions in the replacement ballot packet.

Will my vote still count?

Yes. Your vote will count when you complete and return your replacement ballot.

What is the deadline to return my replacement ballot?

Your mail-in ballot must be postmarked by USPS, dropped in a ballot drop box location, or taken to a polling place or local board by 8:00 pm on Election Day, June 23, 2026.

What if I no longer wish to vote by mail?

If you prefer to vote at the polls after you previously requested a mail-in ballot, you should cancel your mail-in ballot. The easiest way to cancel your mail-in ballot request is online by visiting our website at https://vote.md.gov/update. Or you can visit: the State Board of Elections website (elections.maryland.gov), go to the "Voting" dropdown, and select "Voter Services" and follow the steps in the "Update Your Voting Info" tab to cancel your ballot.

I requested my mail-in ballot after May 14, 2026. Does this impact me?

No. Voters who requested a mail-in ballot after May 14, 2026 will only receive one ballot and should vote the ballot that is received. This ballot will be marked so that voters can identify it. Please check back for more information.

I am a UOCAVA voter. Does this affect me?

Yes, UOCAVA voters will be sent replacement ballots. If you are concerned about receiving your ballot, you can switch to web delivery ballots

I requested my mail-in ballot by web delivery (Print-At-Home) or received a ballot in-person directly from my local election office. Does this error impact me?

No. You are not impacted by this error. Vote and return your print-at-home ballot or the ballot you received at your local election office. and should do nothing as it relates to this matter.

We understand that there will be a lot of information about this issue from various media sources. Continue to rely on the Maryland State Board of Elections and your local election officials as your trusted sources of information. If you see any mis-/dis-information, utilize the mis-/dis-information portal to report it.

If you have any questions about your mail-in ballot, contact us at 410-269-2840 or [email protected].

A press release from the Maryland State Board of Elections and Taylor Print & Visual Impressions, Inc. was made on May 15, 2026. An additional press release was issued by SBE on May 18, 2026. Both press releases can be found by visiting our Press Room.