As a US citizen you should be prepared to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming Primary and general elections. You may even be entitled to time off work to vote.
The Presidential and State Primary elections in Maryland are scheduled for May 14, 2024, and the General Election is November 5, 2024. The deadline for registration to participate in the Primary is looming.
Primary Registration Deadlines:
By Mail: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 (postmarked)
In Person: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Online: Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Get Registered! Be well informed!
In Maryland, mail-in voting is available, and no excuse is required. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is 14 days before the election. You can return your mail-in ballot request form through mail, in person at your local elections office, or online. Voted ballots must be received or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. You can track the status of your mail-in ballot online, but it may take up to 3 weeks to appear on the website.
To vote early in the 2024 Primary Election, go to a designated location in your county. Maryland early Voting is Thursday, May 2nd through Thursday, May 9th between 7 am and 8 pm.
If you vote early, you cannot vote on Election Day or by mail-in ballot.
To safeguard your right to vote, it is advised that you check your voting registration status in time to register.
Find your assigned Polling place
Review and confirm your voting registration.
Register to vote online.
Dropboxes are available throughout the county. In Poolesville, the Dropbox is at the door to the Poolesville High School building, 17501 West Willard Road, Poolesville, MD 20837.
Get the answers to all your questions about voting in Maryland at Maryland Voting Information (vote411.org) or Early Voting (maryland.gov)
This information on the Primary Election came from WTOP:
The May 14 primary includes both the Democratic and Republican contests.
On the Republican side, the candidates on the Presidential ballot will be:
- Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (who formally suspended her campaign in March)
- Former President Donald Trump
.
On the Democratic side, the candidates on the Presidential ballot will be:
- President Joe Biden
- Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips
- Self-help author Marianne Williamson (Williamson has formally suspended her campaign)
Local races
Voters in Maryland will be asked to weigh in on a slew of local races, and there are some extremely competitive contests.
Senate
The retirement of longtime Sen. Ben Cardin has touched off a competitive and crowded race to succeed him.
On the Democratic side, 10 candidates are vying for the seat.
On the Republican side, there are a total of five candidates.
U.S. House
There are primary contests for all eight U.S. House seats.
The most crowded is in the 6th District which encompasses Poolesville. David Trone, who was reelected in 2022 by a comfortable margin, is giving up the seat to make his Senate run.
Under the current borders, the district includes all of Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties, and a portion of Montgomery County.
On the Democratic side, 16 candidates are running, including several state lawmakers.
On the Republican side, there are seven candidates.
Last but not least
There are also non-partisan contests, including candidates running for the County Board of Education and for the Montgomery County Circuit Court.
As you make your choices, you may wish to research the candidates. Voter guides are available on-line from many sources, including the League of Women Voters (www.lwvmd.org), NAACP, (https//naacp.org), and several media sources including NBC4, and WTOP radio.