January 10, 2020 Baltimore County

January 14th is the Deadline to Register to Vote, Change Party Affiliation, Update an Address, and Request a Polling Place Reassignment

The State of Maryland has issued a proclamation declaring a special election for Maryland's 7th Congressional District to fill the House of Representatives vacancy. Important deadlines for the upcoming 2020 Special Primary Election for the 7th Congressional District are approaching.

The deadline to register to vote, change party affiliation, update an address, and request a polling place reassignment for this election is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

To vote in the upcoming 2020 Special Primary Election, Maryland residents in the 7th Congressional District who are eligible to vote but are not yet registered-including 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old on or before the April 28 Special General Election-should register by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. This is also the last day for registered voters to update their address with their local board of elections or change their party affiliation. Only voters registered as Democrat or Republican are eligible to vote in the Special Primary Election.

Baltimore County residents with a Maryland driver's license or MVA-issued ID may register to vote, change their address, or change their party affiliation online.

Voters and members of the military, their spouses and dependents who are overseas and who do not have a Maryland driver's license or MVA-issued ID, may also register or change their address or party affiliation online using different identifying information. 

Paper Voter Registration Applications

Paper voter registration applications must be hand-delivered or mailed to the Baltimore County Board of Elections. A hand-delivered application must be received by the Baltimore County Board of Elections by 5 p.m. on January 14, 2020, and a mailed application must be postmarked by January 14, 2020. 

Voter registration applications are available throughout Maryland at the following locations:

  • Local boards of elections
  • Motor Vehicle Administration offices
  • State Department of Health offices
  • Local Department of Social Services offices
  • Offices on Aging
  • Division of Rehabilitation Services
  • Recruitment offices of the U.S. Armed Forces
  • Public institutions of higher education
  • Marriage license bureaus
  • Post offices
  • Public libraries
  • State Board of Elections
  • The MTA Paratransit Certification Office

You may also call 1-800-222-8683 to request an application by mail or download and print a voter registration application.

Polling Place Accessibility

Most of Maryland's polling places are accessible to voters with disabilities. An elderly voter or a voter with a disability who is assigned to an inaccessible polling place may ask to be reassigned to an accessible polling place.

This request must be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The Request for Polling Place Change or Absentee Ballot form (PDF) is available online. Voters can also call 1-800-222-8683 to request a form by mail. On receipt of a timely request, the Baltimore County Board of Elections will review the request and determine whether there is an accessible polling place with the same ballot as the voter's home precinct and notify the voter of the status of his or her request.

To verify voter registration status or to find out if an assigned polling place is accessible, voters may visit the State of Maryland's Voter Lookup.

No Early Voting for Primary

The 2020 Special Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. There will be no early voting for the 2020 Special Primary Election. Voters may vote by absentee ballot or go to their polling place on the Special Primary's election day.

Same-Day Voter Registration

If an individual misses the January 14 deadline to register, they will have the opportunity to register to vote at their polling place. To register to vote on election day, individuals need to go to their assigned polling place where they live and bring a document that proves where they live. This can be an MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document that includes the voter's name and address.

More Information

Voters can find their Congressional District online.

Voters can find their polling place online.

For more information, voters may contact the Baltimore County Board of Elections at 410-887-5700 or the State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-VOTE (8683) or visit elections.maryland.gov.