Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I vote in-person? 

During Early Voting, you can vote at one of two locations (see below) from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. On Election Day, you can vote at your polling place (19 locations county-wide, depending on your address) from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Where are the Early Voting Centers?

Cecil County Administration Building
200 Chesapeake Boulevard / Elkton

and

The Church of the Nazarene
2626 Jacob Tome Memorial Highway / Colora

Early Voting for the 2024 General Election runs October 24-31 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. 

Where are the Election Day Polling Places? 

A list of Cecil County's 19 polling locations is here. Voting on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 is open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Voters can vote the correct ballot at their assigned voting location. 

 How can I request a Mail-In Ballot (MIB)?

There are three ways you can request a mail-in ballot.

• Online if you have a Maryland’s driver’s license or MVA-issued ID card.
• Complete and return one of the forms below. Read the instructions, enter the required information, print the form, sign it, and return it to your local board of elections. You can return it by mail, fax, or email (scanned as an attachment).
  
  
  • Mail-in ballot application for 2024 elections (PDF)
  • Solicitud de Papeleta de Votante Ausente para las Elecciones del 2024 (PDF)
  
  
• Go to your local board of elections and fill it out and turn in the form.

If you want to get a mail-in ballot for all future elections, you can sign up for the permanent mail-in ballot list when you request a mail-in ballot. Once you are on this list, we will send you your mail-in ballot for each future election you are eligible to vote in. You won't have to submit a request for each election.

When does my MIB Application need to be received by the Board of Elections?

The deadline depends on how you want to receive your ballot.

• If you want to receive your ballot by mail or fax, your request must be received (not just mailed) by Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
• If you want to receive your ballot via the internet,* your request must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, November 1, 2024 for a request sent in the mail, or by 11:59 pm on Friday, November 1, 2024 for a request sent by fax or submitted online.
• If you hand deliver your request and the ballots are ready, you can pick up your mail-in ballot. You may take your mail-in ballot with you and return it by mail, or you can vote it at the local board office and give it to an election official. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in person is General Election Day -- November 5, 2024. Cecil County's Board of Elections office is open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
• If you miss the deadlines to receive your ballot by mail, fax, or via the internet, but still want to vote by mail-in ballot, you or your agent must apply in person at your local board of elections. For more information about someone else picking up your ballot, see “Can I have someone pick up my ballot?” below.

*Please note that a ballot received via the internet must still be printed and then returned by hand, by mail, or dropped at a ballot drop off box.

Under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens mail-in Voting Act, military voters and voters who live outside the U.S. can vote by mail-in ballot. If you are a military voter or live outside of the U.S., learn more about mail-in voting.

What is the deadline to return my Mail-In Ballot to the Board of Elections?

You must mail or hand deliver your voted ballot. You may also drop your voted ballot into one of the five (5) secured, locked ballot boxes provided throughout Cecil County during the election cycle. You cannot submit your voted ballot online, by email or fax.

2024 Presidential General Election

Use the envelope provided with your ballot. Don't forget to seal the envelope and sign your oath on the back. You can:

• Mail your ballot. We recommend that you mail your ballot as soon as you have voted it. It must be postmarked on or before General Election Day -- Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Your voted ballot must be received by your local board of elections by 10:00 am on Friday, November 15, 2024.
• Take your ballot to one of the county's five (5) locked, secure ballot drop boxes. When you receive your ballot, you will also receive a list of the ballot drop box locations in Cecil County. Your voted ballot must be delivered to a ballot box no later than 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
• Hand deliver your ballot. You must deliver it to your local board of elections by 8:00 pm on election day, or you may take it to an early voting center, or a ballot drop off box by the time the polls close.

If you have specific questions, please contact your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections.

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 where 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 Election. For the 2024 General Election, the deadline to change your party affiliation is Tuesday, October 15, 2024 -- 5:00 pm at the election office or 11:59 pm online.

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 General 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.  

FAQ's about Maryland's New Voting System

FAQ's about Election Day