Early Voting In Anne Arundel County: Locations, Dates, Times

Jacob Baumgart
Updated ·7 min read

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Early voting starts Monday. Do you know where to go?

Coronavirus has shaken up the usual polling locations, so you might have to vote somewhere else this year. We've got you covered.

Patch breaks down everything Anne Arundel County residents need to know about voting early in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Here is Patch's guide to the 2020 presidential election.

What District Am I In?

While every voter will have the same names on their presidential ballot, their specific address determines the other races they see. The full Anne Arundel County ballot is available here, but there are easier ways to tell which races you can vote in.

Unlike the Senate, each Marylander only has one delegate in the United States House of Representatives. To determine which congressional district you are a part of, enter your ZIP code at this link.

Three Board of Education seats are up for grabs in Anne Arundel County. Your County Council district determines who represents you on the board. Punch in your address at this website to see what district you are a part of.

Anne Arundel County is in Circuit 5 of the Maryland Circuit Court and the Maryland Court of Appeals. Every Maryland voter is eligible to vote in the at-large race in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Who's Running For Office?

Every candidate up for election in Anne Arundel County is listed below. Their party, where applicable, is noted next to their name.

Each candidate's name is linked to their campaign website. Two judges do not have campaign pages, so Patch is linked to their profiles in the state's court system. Special instructions and circumstances are listed in parenthesis.

President and Vice President of the United States:

Representative of U.S. Congressional District 2:

Representative of U.S. Congressional District 3:

Representative of U.S. Congressional District 4:

Representative of U.S. Congressional District 5:

Board of Education Member for County Council District 2:

Board of Education Member for County Council District 3:

Board of Education Member for County Council District 6:

Judge in Circuit 5 of the Maryland Circuit Court (You Can Vote for up to Four Candidates):

Judge in Circuit 5 of the Maryland Court of Appeals (Voting for His Continuance in Office):

Judge At-Large of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals (Voting for His Continuance in Office):

What's Questions Are On The Ballot?

These proposals are referendums that need voters' approval to become law. If passed, the first two questions would alter the listed Maryland laws. The remaining propositions would alter county laws, if adopted.

Residents can vote for or against the following motions. Each petition's name is linked to supplementary, nonpartisan information.

Question 1 (Constitutional Amendment):

  • "The proposed amendment authorizes the General Assembly, in enacting a balancedbudget bill for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscalyear thereafter, to increase, diminish, or additems, provided that the General Assemblymay not exceed the total proposed budget assubmitted by the Governor."

  • (Amending Article II Section 17 and Article III Sections 14 and 52 of the MarylandConstitution)

Question 2 (Commercial Gaming Expansion Referendum):

  • "Do you approve the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorizesports and events betting for the primarypurpose of raising revenue for education?"

  • (Ch. 492 of the 2020 Legislative Session) Expansion of Commercial Gaming - Sportsand Event Wagering

Question A (Charter Amendment to the Legislative Branch - Duties of the County Auditor):

  • "To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to allow the County Auditor to have access toall records and files pertaining to Countybusiness; to allow the County Auditor toconduct additional financial and performanceaudits or reviews of any office, department, oragency funded in whole or in part by Countyfunds; and to allow the County Auditor toconduct investigations of an act or allegationof fraud, waste, or abuse in the obligation,expenditure, or use of County resources."

Question B (Charter Amendment to the Executive Branch - Appointment and Confirmation of Certain Department Heads):

  • "To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to require County Council confirmation of theCounty Executives appointments of theCounty Attorney, Chief of Police, and FireChief and to allow the County Council, on theaffirmative vote of not less than five members,to prevent removal of a County Attorneyappointed by the County Executive."

Question C (Charter Amendment to the Merit System - Exempt Positions):

  • "To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to remove the limit of 1500 hours per calendaryear for hourly rate contractual employees inthe exempt service under Section 802(a)(14)of the Charter."

Question D (Charter Amendment to Centralized Purchasing - Competitive Bidding):

  • "To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to permit the County Council to increase theminimum value of purchases and contractsrequiring full competitive bidding to an amountnot less than $25,000 and not greater than$100,000."

Question E (Charter Amendment to the Merit System - Extension of the Probationary Period):

  • "To amend Section 806 of the Anne Arundel County Charter to modify the probationaryperiod from six months to the time required tocomplete the departments entry-level trainingprogram plus twelve months for entry-levelfull-time classified sworn employees of thePolice Department, Fire Department, SheriffsOffice, and Department of DetentionFacilities, and to provide that a probationaryperiod does not run while an employee is onpaid or unpaid leave that exceeds 80consecutive hours."

Question F (Charter Amendment to the Executive Branch - Expanding the Limitation on the Term of Temporary Appointees):

  • "To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to expand the initial term for an acting ChiefAdministrative Officer or acting head of anyoffice or department from sixty days to onehundred twenty days, and to allow the CountyCouncil to extend that term by up to twoadditional six month periods instead of thecurrent four months."

Question G (Charter Amendment to Require the Anne Arundel County Human Relations Commission):

  • "To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to require the Anne Arundel County HumanRelations Commission."

How Do I Register To Vote?

Residents must register to vote before Oct. 13. If Maryland voters miss the deadline, they can register at one of the polling centers during early voting or on Election Day. To find out if you're already registered to vote, head to the state board of elections website.

How Do I Vote By Mail?

The state started mailing out absentee ballot applications on Aug. 24. Anne Arundel County voters could also request their mail-in ballot at this link.

Those interested in voting by mail had to apply before Oct. 20. Their ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3. The Maryland State Board of Elections explains the full process in this video.

How Do I Vote By Drop Box?

Voters can place their absentee ballot at one of 31 secured drop boxes. The first 17 bins opened Sept. 30. An additional 14 drop-offs open on Oct. 17. Residents using this method must drop off their ballot by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Where Can I Vote Early?

Early voting will take place at seven sites. Each center will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2. Masks will be required.

Where Can I Vote On Election Day?

Residents can vote at one of 31 locations on Nov. 3. They will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Masks will be required.

What Are The Deadlines And Dates?

  • Voter Registration: Register by Oct. 13 or at the polls during early or Election Day voting

  • Absentee Ballot Application: Must be received by mail or submitted online by Oct. 20

  • First Round Of Drop Boxes Open: Sept. 30

  • Second Round of Drop Boxes Open: Oct. 17

  • Early Voting Starts: Oct. 26 (Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day)

  • Early Voting Ends: Nov. 2

  • Absentee Ballot Return: Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3

  • Drop Boxes Close: 8 p.m. on Nov. 3

  • Election Day: Nov. 3 (Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

More information on these dates, applications and locations is available here.

Who Can I Contact With Problems?

The Maryland State Board of Elections is reachable by phone at (410) 269-2840 and (800) 222-8683. The board's email is info.sbe@maryland.gov.

The Anne Arundel County Board of Elections is available at (410) 222-6600. The election officials can also be reached at elections@aacounty.org.

If you have problems voting or have additional questions, the national, nonpartisan Election Protection hotline is available at these numbers and in these languages:

  • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

  • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)

  • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287)

  • Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683

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Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.

This article originally appeared on the Annapolis Patch