Maryland voter guide: What to know about voting, registering, mail-in, early voting

Maryland voters will be heading to the polls in 2024 to select candidates for federal and some municipal offices.

The primary election, which determines each qualified party's nomination of candidates for office, is scheduled for May 14.

Party candidates who win the primaries qualify to appear on the General Election ballot Nov. 5.

But there's also early voting for each election. And even remembering if you're registered to vote, or figuring out how to register for the first time, can be confusing. So let's break it down.

How to register to vote in Maryland

To see if you're already registered to vote, check with your county's election board, or go to https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch.

To be eligible to register to vote in Maryland, you must be a United States citizen, live in the state and be at least 16 years old — the age when Maryland residents can register but cannot vote unless they will be at least 18 years old by the next general election, according to the State Board of Elections.

You cannot register to vote in the Free State if you have been convicted of buying or selling votes; are under guardianship for mental disability and found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote; orare currently serving a prison sentence for a felony conviction, according to the State Board of Elections.

However, since 2016, those convicted of a felony, are able to register once out of prison, according to the State Board of Elections. For the purposes of eligibility to register to vote, convictions include federal, state and out-of-state convictions.

Also, certain U.S. citizens who live overseas or are in the military are eligible to register and vote in Maryland, according to the State Board of Elections. If you are an overseas citizen, military personnel or dependent of military personnel, you may register to vote in Maryland if your current or last U.S. residence was in Maryland. To register, you can use the Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR), or use the Federal Post Card Application available at www.fvap.gov.

You can register to vote on election day and during early voting in Maryland, according to the State Board of Elections. Go to an early voting center in the county where you live during early voting, or go to your assigned election day polling place and bring a document that proves where you live.

Voter registration deadlines are as follows:

• Mail: New or updated registration deadline is April 23, 2024.

• In person: By the time polls close on Election Day, or on April 23 by 5 p.m. at your local elections board office, or by 11:59 p.m. online.

• Online: Go to the Maryland State Board of Elections website at www.elections.maryland.gov, then click "Voting in Maryland" on the left rail.

Only voters registered with a specific party can participate in that party's primary. For example, only registered Republicans can vote for those seeking the party's nomination for president.

However, any registered voter can vote in a nonpartisan race. For example, many board of education races are nonpartisan.

How to vote in Maryland

The state of Maryland offers various options for those looking to vote. Let's break them down.

Vote early in-person

You can vote early in Maryland from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. between May 2 and 9. No excuse is required to vote early in Maryland. A list of early voting centers for each county and Baltimore City will be posted in late October on the State Board of Election website at www.elections.maryland.gov.

If you’re eligible to vote in Maryland but have not yet registered, you can register and vote at the early voting center, according to the State Board of Elections.

Request a mail-in/absentee ballot

Eligible voters do not need an excuse to vote absentee in Maryland, according to the State Board of Elections.

You can request an absentee ballot online by going to www.elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html and clicking on "How do I request a mail-in ballot?" There you will also find printable requests in English and Spanish that can be mailed in.

Voters also can go to their local board of elections and fill out a form and turn in.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot depends on how you want to receive your ballot, according to the State Board of Elections.

• To receive a ballot by mail or fax, your request must be received (not just mailed) by Tuesday, May 7.

• To receive a ballot via the internet, your request must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, May 10, for a request sent in the mail, or by 11:59 p.m., Friday, May 10, 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 election day, May 14.

• 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.

Return your completed ballot

You can drop off your completed ballot in person or via dropbox. Local election boards will supply a list of early voting sites and drop boxes with your ballot.

Ballots may be returned by mail or in person on Election Day, May 14. All mailed ballots must be must be postmarked on or before primary May 14, and received by your local board of elections by 10 a.m. on May 24, 2024.

To verify your request for a ballot or to see if your ballot has been received, to the voter look-up page on the State Board of Elections website. If you have more questions, contact your local board of elections.

Voting in-person on Election Day

If you plan on voting in-person on Election Day, you can find your voting location options here.

If you're eligible to vote but have not yet registered, you can register to vote on Election Day and during early voting, according to the State Elections Board.

You will need to show ID if you plan to register and vote on the same day.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MD voter guide: How to check registration, how to cast your ballot