This year’s election is our opportunity to elect federal officials who will shape our country’s direction for at least the next decade. If you may be busy or away from home on November 5, you can sign up now to vote by mail, or plan for early voting.
Why Commit Now to Vote This Year
This year’s election is our opportunity to elect federal officials who will shape our country’s direction for at least the next decade. We can elect leaders who will take real action on climate change and environmental justice, transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable energy, protect forests and natural places, and promote zero waste.
| Sierra Club members and supporters are joining together now and committing to vote in the November 5 election. This election will choose the next President, a new U.S. Senator, Maryland’s members of the House of Representatives, school board members, and top decision-makers in Baltimore City and other jurisdictions. |
As explained below, Maryland provides several options that make it easy for all to vote.
- Vote by mail or drop box
- Vote in person during early voting
- Vote on Election Day Tuesday, November 5.
Registering to Vote
In Maryland you can register to vote in person at the polling site during early voting or on election day. However, if you plan to vote by mail you will need to be registered ahead of time.
The Maryland State Board of Elections provides online capability to verify voter registration. Persons who need to register to vote or change their address or party affiliation can do that online here. Citizens who will be 18 years old by November 5 can register now in Maryland.
Students living away from home while attending school could register at either address. Strategy might suggest registering and voting at the location where your vote would be most likely to affect the outcome in an important, close race.
Where election races may be close:
- Within Maryland, the 6th Congressional district (the northwestern part of Montgomery County and all of Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington Counties).
- Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat is expected to be competitive, so it would be strategic to register and vote in Maryland if the alternative address is in a state that is not expected to be close.
- States where the election for President is expected to be close include Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina. Many of those states also have U.S. Senate races that may be close, and Ohio does also. Registration to vote in those states can be accomplished here.
Voting By Mail
You can decide now whether you want to vote in person or by mail. If you may be busy or away from home on November 5, voting by mail is a great way to be sure you won’t lose your chance to vote. If you sign up now you should receive your election ballot in late September.
Any registered Maryland voter can go online here to make a Mail-in Ballot Request. You can choose to sign up to receive a mail-in ballot for the November 5 election, or to receive a mail-in ballot for that and all future federal and state elections:
Completed mail-in ballots can be mailed back to the Board of Elections or placed in a secure drop box. A list of drop box locations is here (en español).
Early Voting
Early voting centers will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm every day from October 24 through October 31. You can vote at any early voting center in the county where you are registered to vote. During early voting (and on election day November 5) eligible individuals can register for the first time or update their address and immediately vote.
A list of early voting centers is here (en español).
Voting on November 5
Local precinct polling places will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 5. Be sure to vote at your assigned precinct polling place which can be located here.
Make Your Plan Now!
Do you have a question that this blog does not answer? The answer may be on the State Board of Elections website here.
Let’s all commit now that we will vote in the November 5 election. Together we can move Maryland and our country forward by electing officials who will be real champions.
Blog by: Rich Norling, Maryland Chapter Political Chair, rich.norling@mdsierra.org.