By: Rich Norling, Political Chair
Maryland’s primary election is officially on June 23. But you can choose when you will vote. You can vote by mail any time from mid-May to June 23, in person at an early voting center from June 11 through June 18, or at your assigned neighborhood polling place on June 23.
Why Commit Now to Vote This Year
This election year is our opportunity to elect state and county officials who will shape Maryland’s direction for at least the next decade. We can elect officials who will take real action on climate change and environmental justice, 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 June 23 primary and the November 3 general election. The June 23 primary is especially important because many contests will be settled in the primary, well before the general election. |
Why Voting in the Primary is Important
Maryland has many districts and counties that are overwhelmingly Democratic or overwhelmingly Republican. In those, the candidate who wins the June 23 primary is almost guaranteed to win election in November.
In the last state election nearly 70% of the candidates endorsed by the Sierra Club had to face opponents in the primary to even get on the ballot for the November general election. We expect this year’s primary to be just as important as it was last time.
This year Maryland has an open U.S. House of Representatives seat, four open County Executive seats in large counties, quite a few open seats in the General Assembly and county offices, and at least two hotly contested primaries for state senate seats. All of these contests are important for our future.
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 June 23, 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 June 23 primary, the November 3 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.
Early Voting June 11 through June 18
You can vote at an early voting center in the county where you live. Early voting centers in each county will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm every day from June 11 through June 18. During early voting (and on election day June 23) eligible individuals can register for the first time or update their address and immediately vote.
Voting on June 23
Local precinct polling places will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, June 23. 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 and Mail-in Ballot status. Persons who need to register to vote or change their address can do that in person during early voting, at the polls on June 23, or online here.
Let’s all commit now that we will vote in the June 23 primary election. Together we can move Maryland forward by electing officials who will be real champions.
When will you vote?