Ballot Questions
There are two Maryland and three Howard County questions on the 2020 ballot. To see them and get more information, please visit the League of Women Voters information page.
Maryland Step-by-Step Mail-in Ballot Instructions
This document walks through the Maryland mail-in ballot process with screenshots and instructions for each step. The guide also includes instructions on how to how to register and request a ballot at the same time, and how to update your address if you’ve moved. See Guide
Got a Mail-in Ballot? USE IT!
If you requested a Maryland mail-in ballot, please return it via USPS or at a vot
ing drop box. Voters who receive a mail-in ballot but show up for early voting or on election day will only be able to cast a provisional ballot. Ballot drop boxes will be located at each early voting center location, as well as at the Howard County Board of Elections, 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046. Return your mail-in ballot promptly and get your vote counted. “If you request it, please use it!” IMPORTANT: If you register to vote-by-mail and then decide to vote in person, bring the vote-by-mail ballot with you to the polling place.
Election Judges Needed
The Howard County Board of Elections is seeking people to work as election judges for the upcoming General Election. You will be compensated for attending mandatory virtual training and for working on Election Day. For detailed information, click here.
Absentee Ballot Applications
The Maryland State Board of Elections (BOE) will automatically mail an absentee ballot application (not your actual ballot, as was done in the primary) to the address under which you are registered to vote. You may also request an absentee ballot online by October 27, 2020. You can check your voter registration address here.
If you need to register to vote or update your current address, you must do so by Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Or you may exercise your right to “same day” register and vote during the early voting period and on election day. You can find further guidance on this process here.
If you are unable to vote by mail, you must vote in-person during the early vote period or on election day at your designated polling location in your jurisdiction.
Become a Maryland Election Judge
To become an Election Judge, you must be a registered voter in the state of Maryland. You must be available to work at least a 16-hour day and read, write, speak, and understand the English language. You must attend a mandatory online training session and be willing to follow instructions concerning election laws and the overall duties of staffing a polling place. PPE will be provided.
Go to the website www.howardcountymd.gov/boe, click on “Election Judges” on the left-hand side of the screen, then click the blue link near the top of the screen that says, “Howard County Board of Elections Judge Registration Form.”
If you have questions, call Laurie A. at 202-549-9555.
Additional Resources
- If you need to register to vote, click here.
- To check your voter registration, text CHECK to 77788 or visit this link
- If you are registered to vote and need to check that your address is up to date, click here.
- To get information about candidates running for the Howard County Board of Education, click here.