This election year is our opportunity to elect officials who will shape our direction for at least the next decade. We can elect officials who will take real action on climate change and environmental justice, protect clean air and clean water, move from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable energy, protect forests and natural places, and promote zero waste.
Sierra Club members and supporters are joining together now and committing to vote in the May 14 primary and the November 5 general election. The May 14 primary is especially important because many contests will be settled in the primary, well before the general election.
Maryland has many districts that are overwhelmingly Democratic or overwhelmingly Republican. In those, the candidate that wins the primary on May 14 is almost guaranteed to win election in November.
This year Maryland has an open U.S. Senate seat, three open House of Representatives seats, and hotly contested races in Baltimore for mayor, city council president, and several other seats on the city council. All of these contests are important for our future.
Here is important information about this year’s election and how you can sign up to vote by mail, or plan for early voting.
Voting By Mail
You can decide now whether you want to vote in person or by mail. If you may be busy or away from home on May 14, voting by mail is a great way to be sure you won’t lose your chance to vote.
Any registered voter can go online here to make a Mail-in Ballot Request. You can choose to sign up to receive a mail-in ballot for the May 14 primary, the November 5 general election, both of those, or to receive a mail-in ballot for both of those and all future federal and state elections.
Completed mail-in ballots can be mailed back to the Board of Elections or placed in a secure drop box. A list of drop box locations is here (en español).
Early Voting
Early voting centers in each county will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm every day from May 2 through May 9. During early voting (and on election day May 14) eligible individuals can register for the first time or update their address and immediately vote. A list of early voting centers is here (en español).
Voting on May 14
Local precinct polling places will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, May 14. Locate your assigned polling place here.
Other Resources
A complete description of all voting options is on the State Board of Elections website here. The State Board of Elections also provides online capability to verify voter registration. Persons who need to register to vote or change their address can do that in person during early voting, at the polls on May 14, or online here.
Let’s all commit now that we will vote in the May 14 primary and November 5 elections. Together we can move forward by electing officials who will take real action on climate change and be champions for the environment.
Rich Norling
Political Chair
Sierra Club Maryland Chapter