Accessible Voting

Maryland is committed to making voting accessible to all voters.

In-Person Voting

You can vote in person during early voting at any early voting center in the county in which you reside. To uphold accessibility standards, elections officials are required to submit comprehensive surveys for all early voting centers confirming that each location is fully accessible to all voters.

On election day, you must vote at your assigned polling place which ensures you receive the correct ballot. While most Election Day polling places are accessible, voters assigned to a location with physical barriers can contact their local board of elections to request reassignment to an accessible facility.

Ballot marking devices can complete a ballot for a person with physical limitations and are available at every early voting center and polling location. Every polling location provides at least one ballot-marking device placed at a wheelchair-accessible station.

Ballot marking devices enable voters with disabilities to vote privately by using a headset and keypad to listen to ballot selections and make choices. Other assistive devices (for example, sip and puff) can be plugged into these machines. In addition, they can display high contrast and large print versions of ballot items.

Ask an election judge to use audio ballot or another accessibility option.

By Mail-in Ballot

Any Marylander can choose to vote by mail-in ballot. Note that you must submit a request for each election (or to be added to the permanent mail-in ballot list) to receive a ballot.

Voters can choose to have mail-in ballots sent by mail or electronically. Voters must print ballots sent by email, and return them on paper to elections offices. Voters can use an online tool to indicate their choices on a Print-At-Home ballot electronically before printing it for submission. With this tool, most voters with disabilities can make selections without help.

Mail-in and Print-at-Home ballot users can return completed ballots to elections officials by mail, by hand delivery to an elections office or polling location, or by putting them in a ballot dropbox. All dropboxes are secured by video surveillance, and are required to be placed in accessible locations in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (PDF) guidelines.

See the Mail-In Voting page for more information.

Can I vote without help?

Yes. If you vote in person, use a ballot marking device, which can read screens, follow voice- or action-triggered commands, and mark selections on a ballot. If you vote by mail-in ballot, choose to receive it via email, also called Print-At-Home. You will get a link to access Maryland's online ballot marking tool, which lets you make your selections on your computer and print a pre-marked ballot independently.

Marking

Use the accessible online tool to mark and print your ballot, or print a blank ballot to complete by hand.

Returning

Mail to your local board of elections, drop off in an authorized drop box, deliver to your local board of elections, or deliver your printed ballot in person at a polling location. Note: Emailed or faxed ballots will not count—Maryland does not allow electronic ballot return.

Can someone help me vote?

Yes. You can ask someone to help you vote, whether at an early voting center, polling place, or at home, as long as that person is not:

• Your employer or an agent of your employer
• An officer or agent of your union
• A challenger or watcher

Or, if you are voting in person, you may choose to have two election judges help you.

The person helping you must sign a Voter Assistance Form (PDF) and cannot suggest how you should vote.

Who can I contact if I have an accessibility question or concern?

Please contact your local board of elections for more information about voting locations, dropboxes, and physical accommodations.

If you have questions or concerns about accessibility policies or oversight of accommodations, please contact the State Board of Elections at [email protected] or 410-269-2840.