Resources/FAQ – Lifetime Commitment to Cecil County

Quick References:

Register to Vote/Update Registration – New registrations, address changes, name changes, and changes of party affiliation – Register Online
Election Day Frequently Asked Questions – What you need to know before voting, while voting, after voting, and other rules and information
Provisional Voting – purpose, procedure and process
Access by Voters with Disabilities – ADA requirements for polling locations and accessibility of the voting process
U.S. Election Assistance Commission

HOW TO VOTE

Early Voting: Beat the lines and cast your vote the week prior to Election day. Visit the Early Voting page for details.
Election Day: Visit your designated voting precinct (as opposed to Early Voting). Select Find Your Polling Place to see where you should vote on Election day.
Absentee: For voters who are registered, but unable to vote in person. Visit our Absentee Voting page for specific details and deadlines.
Military and Overseas Voters: Determine if you qualify to vote a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot with the Federal Voter Assistance Program. For more information please visit Overseas and Military Voters.

Deadline to Request a Mail-In Vote Ballot for the 2024 Gubernatorial Primary Election

The deadline to request a 2024 Gubernatorial Primary Election mail-in vote ballot for mail delivery is Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
The deadline to request a mail-in vote ballot for the Primary Election for online delivery is Friday, April 19, 2024.
The deadline to request a mail-in vote ballot in person is April 23, 2024.

Any registered voter in Maryland may request and vote by mail-in vote ballot.

A voter who wishes to vote by mail-in vote ballot may request a mail-in vote ballot:

Online for voters with a Maryland driver’s license or MVA-issued ID card;
By submitting a signed application;
By telephone;
In writing; or
In person at the Cecil County Board of Elections.

To request a mail-in vote ballot application from the Cecil County Board of Elections, call (410) 996-5310 or visit the office at the Cecil County Administration Building from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Voters may also visit http://elections.state.md.us/voting/absentee.html to request a mail-in vote ballot online, to print an application, or for more information.

If a voter misses the applicable deadline, the mail-in vote ballot request must be made in person at the Cecil County Board of Elections.

For more information, please contact the Cecil County Board of Elections at 410-996-5310 or the State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-VOTE (8683) or www.elections.state.md.us.

Cecil County Board of Elections
200 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite 1900
Elkton, Maryland 21921

Office: 410-996-5310
Fax: 888-979-8183

The Democratic and Republican Parties are required to use primary elections to choose their candidates for the general election. Although it is up to the parties to decide who may vote in their primaries, generally only registered voters affiliated with the Democratic or Republican Parties may vote in that party’s primary election.

What is the difference between an open and closed primary election?

An Open Primary is a primary election that does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates. In traditional open primaries, voters may select one party’s ballot and vote for that party’s nomination.

A Closed Primary is a primary election wherein voters choose candidates who are affiliated with the same political party to run in the general election. This system deters “cross-over” voting by members of other parties, which preserves a party’s freedom of association and ensuring that only members of the party influence who is nominated for that party.

Is Maryland a closed primary state?

Generally, Maryland has closed primary elections, therefore, voters must be affiliated with either the majority or minority political party to vote in the primary. However, if there are non-partisan offices that are included on a primary election ballot (i.e. school board), any voter can vote for these offices.

State law allows political parties to choose whether to hold an open or closed primary. If a political party chooses to open their primary election, they must provide notice to the State board of Elections six months before the primary election is held.

Do I have to affiliate with a political party? Can I vote in the primary election?

No, you do not have to affiliate with a specific party. If you choose to not select a political party on your voter registration application, you will be “unaffiliated” with any political party. Due to Maryland having closed primaries, unaffiliated voters will generally not be able to vote in party primary elections, but they will be able to vote in any nonpartisan primary election that is held in their jurisdiction (i.e. selecting nominees for the board of education).

May I change political parties?

Yes, except during the 21 days prior to the Primary Election.
For the 2024 Primary Election, the deadline to change your party affiliation is April 2, 2024.
If a party affiliation change request is submitted past the deadline, the local board will be unable to process the request until registration reopens; this means that the party affiliation change will not go into effect until after the Primary Election.

To change your party affiliation use Maryland’s Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or submit a Voter Registration Application or written request (signature required) to your local election office.

Cecil County Board of Elections
200 Chesapeake Blvd. Suite 1900
Elkton, Maryland 21921