How To Vote By Mail: A Step-by-Step Guideline
How To Vote By Mail:
A Guideline to the 2020 Presidential Election
One of our great civic duties is to exercise our franchise – i.e. get out and vote.
With the pandemic, this election cycle is a bit different from years past. We are indebted to those who have done due diligence in investigating (and sharing with us) the various pathways for successfully submitting a ballot.
~ The following is a step-by-step guideline for securing and mailing in your ballot. ~
Note: This is for Maryland Voters
Section I: Change in Landscape
Overview: As the landscape is a bit different from years past, here are ways to request a mail-in ballot if you don’t want to go onsite to the polls on November 3, due to COVID-19.
Unlike the Primary Election, the ballots will NOT be sent out to us. Instead, the state will be mailing out a request form for you to get a mail-in ballot. You must request a ballot if you don’t want to vote in person. Also, there will only be 360 Voting Centers across Maryland, as opposed to the usual 1600, due to a shortage of election judges and poll workers.
Important: To be safe & sure, you do not have to wait to receive the state’s request form; you can request your ballot now, online or by mail, and then track your request to make sure you receive your ballot in time to vote.
Here below is a step-by-step guidelines for how to proceed.
Section II: Requesting Your Ballot Electronically
Electronic Ballot Request: The fastest way to have your request processed is to do it electronically. You will need a driver’s license number, State ID number, or learner’s permit number. (If you do not have one of these ID’s, see instructions to request by mail in Section III below.)
If you are not yet registered to vote, or have moved since you last registered, you can use the electronic process to register or change your address in addition to requesting a ballot.
Click here to access the “Voter Registration and Mail In Ballot Request” page. Follow each “next” prompt. At one point, you will be asked if you are registered to vote, and if you are, whether your address or name has changed. If you aren’t registered, you’ll be able to register at this point.
Section III: Requesting Your Ballot by US Post
US Post Ballot Request: If you do not have a state ID, you can secure a ballot two way via US post:
- Wait for the state form to come by mail, fill it out, and return in the postage-paid envelope. (Note: As of today, the State Board of Elections has not yet mailed the forms and hasn’t indicated when it will do so.)
- Download the request form here and fill it in. You can return it by mail, fax, or email (scanned as an attachment).
Section IV: Receiving Your Ballot
Way to Receive Your Ballot: You can have your ballot (a) faxed, (b) emailed, or (c) mailed to you. However, the ballot scanners cannot read a ballot that was faxed or emailed to you. An election worker would have to copy your ballot onto an official ballot so it can be scanned.
Requesting Your Ballot by US Mail is Better: The Board of Elections urges voters to have their ballots mailed to them, as it speeds up the vote count and is safer for election workers during the pandemic.
Section V: “Did They Get My Ballot Request”
Check Status of Your Ballot Request: You can check whether your request was received about 3 weeks after submitting it online. Use the Voter LookUp Site to track your request. You can also view a sample ballot on that page (once it is available).
Section VI: Submitting Your Vote
Returning Your Ballot: Using the envelope provided with your ballot, you can:
- Hand deliver your ballot
You must deliver it to your local board of elections by 8pm on Election Day, November 3, or you may take it to an early voting center or a polling place before the time the polls close at 8 pm.
DROP-OFF BOX: You can also place your ballot in a secure ballot drop-off box in your community. Drop-off locations will be listed on your mail-in ballot.
- Mail your ballot
Due to current issues with the Post Office, best is to monitor the situation before going this route – and mail it as early as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute. If you mail your ballot, make sure that the envelope is postmarked on or before Election Day, November 3, 2020. Your ballot must be received by your local board of elections by 10 am on November 13, 2020. Return postage is pre-paid.
Section VII: Know Your Deadlines
Here are some of the key deadlines to be aware about:
Voter Registration & Change of Address: Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Ballot Requests: However you request your ballot, your request must be RECEIVED by October 20, so the sooner you order it the better.
Completed Ballots: Must be dropped off by 8 pm November 3, 2020, or postmarked by November 3 and received by 10 am on November 13, 2020, so if you mail it be sure to give it plenty of time to get there.
