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Early Voting

2024 Presidential General Election

You can vote in person during early voting. Early voting will be held from Thursday, October 24, 2024 through Thursday, October 31, 2024. Early voting centers will be open from 7 am to 8 pm.

Who can vote early?

Any person that is registered to vote can vote during early voting. Any person that is eligible to register to vote can vote during early voting.

Registered voters have always been able to vote during early voting, but now individuals who are eligible but not yet registered can register and vote.

To register and vote during early voting, go to an early voting center in the county where you live and bring a document that proves where you live. This document can be your MVA-issued license, ID card, change of address card, your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address. You will be able to register to vote and vote.

When can I vote early?

For the 2024 Presidential General Election, early voting will be available from Thursday, October 24, 2024 through Thursday, October31, 2024 (including Saturday and Sunday) from 7 am to 8 pm.

Where can I vote early?

For both the 2024 Presidential Primary and General Elections, you can vote in an early voting center in the county where you live. The list of early voting centers can be found here(PDF) (en español).

How will I vote during early voting?

Voting during early voting is the same as voting on election day. When you get to the early voting center, you will check in to vote and vote your ballot.

There will be instructions available at the early voting centers to familiarize you with the ballot. You may ask an election judge to explain how to vote, but you must cast your vote alone, unless you are unable to do so because you have a disability or are unable to read or write the English language.

I'm registered to vote, but I need to make a change. Can I make that change during early voting?

It depends.

If you moved, you can update your address. You will be able to change your address and vote.

If you want to change your party affiliation, you can't do that at an early voting center. You must wait until after the election to change your party affiliation.

If you changed your name, you must vote under your former name, but you can fill out a form with your new name. Your name will be updated after the election.

Other early voting information

  • At the end of each day of early voting, all voting equipment and other election supplies will be secured at the early voting center. The local boards of elections are required to file a security plan for each early voting center, and the plans will include information on how the equipment and supplies will be secured at the center. Voted provisional ballots will be returned to the local board of elections each night of early voting. After voting hours on the last day of early voting, all equipment and supplies will be returned to the local board of elections and securely stored until election day.

  • Election Law Article, § 10-301.1(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, specifies the number of early voting centers for each county. The number of early voting centers in a county is based on the county's number of registered voters.

    • Counties with fewer than 50,000 registered voters must have 1 early voting center.
    • Counties with at least 50,000 but fewer than 100,000 registered voters must have 2 early voting centers.
    • Counties with at least 100,000 registered voters but fewer than 200,000 registered voters must have 3 early voting centers.
    • Counties with at least 200,000 registered voters but fewer than 300,000 registered voters must have 5 early voting centers
    • Counties with at least 300,000 registered voters but fewer than 400,000 registered voters must have 7 early voting centers.
    • Counties with at least 400,000 registered voters but fewer than 500,000 registered voters must have 9 early voting centers
    • Counties with at least 500,000 registered voters but fewer than 600,000 registered voters must have 11 early voting centers.
    • Counties with more than 600,000 registered voters must have 13 early voting centers.
    • In addition to the required number of early voting centers, each county may establish one additional early voting center if the local board, the governing body of the county, and the State Board agree to establish an additional early voting center.

  • State regulations require that the State Board of Elections determine the number of registered voters and provide each county with the number of early voting centers that are required for an upcoming election. For the 2024 elections, the number of registered voters will be reviewed on November 14, 2023, or 6 months before the primary election, will be used to determine the number of early voting centers for the 2024 elections.

Early Voting Legislation

  • In 2007, the Maryland General Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that, upon approval by the voters of Maryland, would give the General Assembly the authority to enact legislation authorizing voting before election day. See Chapter 513 (Senate Bill 1) of the 2007 Legislative Session. The proposed constitutional amendment was on the ballot in the 2008 General Election. See Question 1 for the language of the ballot question. The voters of Maryland approved this constitutional amendment, and the Constitution of Maryland was amended to reflect this change.

  • In 2009, legislation was enacted that established the requirements for early voting and required early voting starting with the 2010 elections. See Chapter 445 (House Bill 1179) of the 2009 Legislative Session.

  • In 2013, legislation was enacted that expanded the number of early voting centers and the number of days. See chapter 157 and chapter 158 (Senate Bill 279 and House Bill 224) of the 2013 legislative session.

  • In 2016, legislation was enacted that expanded the number of early voting centers. See Chapter 7  (House Bill 204) and Chapter 288 (House Bill 1008) of the 2016 Legislative Session. 

  • In 2019, legislation was enacted that expanded the number of early voting centers. See Chapter 539 (House Bill 237) of the 2019 Legislative Session.

  • In 2021, legislation was enacted that expanded the hours of early voting for all elections. See Chapter 659 and Chapter 660 (Senate Bill 596 and House Bill 206) of the 2021 Legislative Session.

  • In 2021, legislation was enacted that expanded the number of early voting centers. See Chapter 43 (House Bill 745) of the 2021 Legislative Session.
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