Voter Registration - Introduction

Am I eligible to register to vote?

To register to vote, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen;
• A Maryland resident; and
• At least 16 years old*.

However, you cannot register to vote if you:

• Have been convicted of buying or selling votes;
• Are under guardianship for mental disability and found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote; or
• Are currently serving a sentence of imprisonment for a felony conviction

*You may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old but cannot vote unless you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election.

Can I register to vote if I am in the military or live overseas?

Certain U.S. citizens who live overseas or are in the military are eligible to register and vote in Maryland. If you are an overseas citizen, military personnel, or dependent of military personnel, you may register to vote in Maryland if your current or last U.S. residence was in Maryland. To register, you can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR), or use the Federal Post Card Application available at www.fvap.gov.

Can I register to vote if I have been convicted of a crime?

Effective March 10, 2016, if you have been convicted of a felony, you are eligible to register to vote once you have completed the court-ordered sentence of imprisonment. For the purposes of eligibility to register to vote, convictions include federal, state and out-of-state convictions.

You are not eligible to vote if you have been convicted of buying or selling votes.

When may I apply to register to vote?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or submit a voter registration application to your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections.

You can also register to vote during early voting or on election day. Go to an early voting center in the county where you live during early voting, or go to your assigned election day polling place and bring a document that proves where you live.

To prove where you live, bring your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address.

Where may I apply to register to vote?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) to register to vote. Or, you may complete a voter registration application in person at any time at the following locations:

• Your local board of elections;
• The State Board of Elections;
• Your local Department of Health office; 
• The Maryland Department of Human Services local offices; 
• The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) offices; 
• Your local Area Agency on Aging office;
• The MTA Paratransit Certification Office; 
• All public institutions of higher education;
• Recruitment offices of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• Marriage license offices; and
• Offices for students with disabilities at all Maryland colleges and universities.

You can also register to vote during early voting or election day. The list of early voting centers will be provided when available.

To prove where you live, bring your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address.

May I apply to register to vote online or by mail?

Yes. You may register to vote online using Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR). Or you may print an application from our website or contact your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections to request an application.

What information do I need to provide on the application?

In addition to basic identifying information, federal law requires that you provide on your voter registration application a Maryland driver’s license number or MVA ID Card number or, if you do not have a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID Card, the last four digits of your social security number. Your application will NOT be processed unless you provide this information or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that you do not have a Maryland driver’s license, MVA ID Card, or social security number.

How do I affiliate with a political party?

You have the option to register with any of Maryland’s recognized political parties. If you choose not to register with a party, you will be registered as “unaffiliated.” If registered as unaffiliated, you will generally not be able to vote in primary elections, but you will be able to vote in any nonpartisan primary election held in your jurisdiction, such as a primary election to select nominees for the board of education, and any general election.

If your application is complete, you are considered a registered voter. If you do not receive a Voter Notification Card three weeks after you submit an application, you should contact your local board of elections. You can also verify whether you are registered to vote by visiting our Voter Lookup website.

Registration is permanent as long as you continue to live in Maryland and keep your name and address current. You do not have to re-register when you move within the State.

How do I update my name and address?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) to update your name and address or you can notify the local board of elections where you currently live if your voter registration information has changed. If you complete a change of address form at the MVA, this information will be sent to your local board of elections for processing, unless you indicate that you do not want to change your voter registration information. You can also send changes on a voter registration application or on any signed written notice.

If you want to vote during early voting, go to an early voting center in the county where you live. An election official will process your change of address.

If you plan to vote on election day, go to the polling place assigned to your new address. You can use our Polling Place Locator to find your new polling place. At your new polling place, you will vote a provisional ballot and provide your new address on the application. Your provisional ballot will count as long as you sign the application.

If you do not receive a Voter Notification Card with your updated information three weeks after you submit information, you should contact the local board of elections where you now live to ensure that your records are up-to-date. You can also verify whether the local board of elections has your new information by visiting our voter look-up website.

What should I do if I move to another county within the State or to Baltimore City?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLUP), or immediately provide your new address to the local board of elections in your new jurisdiction.

I Am a Transgender Voter. How Do I Update My Gender on My Voter Record?

You can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) to update your gender or you can notify the local board of elections where you currently live if your voter registration information has changed. You can also send changes on a voter registration application or on any signed written notice. The online and paper voter registration forms offer three options for gender: Male, Female, and Unspecified or Other. You may select one of these options.

If You Have Already Changed Your Name and Gender with MVA, you do not need to do anything else. Your information will be sent by the MVA to the appropriate local board of election. They will update the information in your voter record, unless you opt out of sharing your information.

If You Have Changed Your Name and Gender at MVA 21 Days or Less before an Election, your updated information will not be reflected in your voter record. When you go to the voting location to vote, you will be asked for your name, address and date of birth at check-in.  If the name you provide does not match the voter record, you will be asked if you have made any recent changes that might not be reflected in the voter record.  If you provide sufficient information to locate your voter record (i.e. previous name or address that is listed in the database), you will be asked to fill out a Voter Update Form prior to voting.  The Voter Update Form includes sections for both name and gender updates. This will update your information in our database.

How do I cancel my voter registration?

You can notify the local board of elections where you currently live if you wish to cancel your voter registration with a signed written notice. You can also send a cancellation to the State Board of Elections using the Voter Registration Cancellation Form (PDF).

You should contact the local board of elections where you now live to ensure that your records are up-to-date. You can also verify the cancellation by visiting our voter look-up website.

May I change parties?

Yes. To change your party affiliation you can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR), or submit a new voter registration application or a signed written request to your local board of elections. The deadline to change your party affiliation is three weeks prior to election day.

What parties are recognized in Maryland?

• Democratic Party
  (National website | Maryland website)
• Republican Party
  (National website | Maryland website)
• Green Party
  (National website | Maryland website)
• The Working Class Party
  (Maryland website)