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Maryland voters head to the polls on Nov. 3 with voters set to choose among four candidates for governor.
Seats for Congress and state and local government are also on the ballot.
Voters around the state have three ballot referendums to decide on, and depending on what county you live in, you might have several more locally-focused issues to vote on too.
Voters can cast ballots during this fall’s early voting period, scheduled from Oct. 22 through Oct. 29, at designated early voting sites. You can find more information about where you’re supposed to vote by visiting the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website.
On Nov. 3, which is Election Day, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Eligible voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot.
Information on where to vote on the day of this fall’s primary election is available on the board’s website.
Maryland said the shortest lines are typically on weekends during early voting, or between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Election Day.
Keep in mind, while you can bring children under the age of 18 with you to vote, you cannot use your cellphone, camera or computer equipment inside an early voting center or polling place. There are expectations for technology being used as a translation device, to provide proof of ID or residency, review election information, and to record a digital image of your marked ballot prior to casting for personal use.
You can bring printed material — including your marked specimen ballot — to help you vote. The state said some first-time voters in Maryland may be asked to show ID before voting. Acceptable forms of ID include a copy of a current and valid photo ID such as a Maryland driver’s license, MVA ID card, student, employee, or military ID card, U.S. passport or any other state or federal government-issued ID card. A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address is also accepted, as long as it’s dated within three months of the election.
Clothing, buttons or stickers with political messages are allowed inside polling places, but anyone wearing them must leave right away.
In a general election, you can write in the name of a candidate. Instructions on how to cast a write-in vote, as well as a list of write-in candidates who have officially filed, will be posted at early voting centers and polling places on Election Day.
If your employer asks for proof that you voted, an election judge can provide a certificate of participation.
In Maryland, the term “absentee ballots” are called “mail-in ballot.” Anyone can cast their vote with a mail-in ballot without having to give a reason.
You can request a mail-in ballot online, by mailing in an application (the form is posted online) or by asking in person at your local board of elections.
Voters can also automatically receive a mail-in ballot for all future elections by signing up for the permanent mail-in ballot list when requesting a mail-in ballot. You’ll no longer need to make a request for each election.
Voters can apply for a ballot to be mailed to them through midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
You can print your own ballot at home by applying online by midnight on Friday, Oct. 30. If you do that, you’ll be required to print out your own ballot and oath, use your own envelope and return everything either through the mail, at a ballot dropbox or in person.
Ballots returned by mail have to be postmarked on or before Tuesday, Nov. 3 and received by noon Friday, Nov. 6.
Democratic Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller are running for reelection. They face Republicans Dan Cox and Rob Krop; the Green Party’s Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andres; and the Working Class Party’s Cathy White and Cathy Permut.
Democrat Brooke Lierman is running for reelection against Republican Sonya Dunn.
Democrat Anthony Brown is running for reelection against Republican James Rutledge III.
Maryland has eight congressional districts.
Republican Andy Harris is running for reelection against Democrat Dan Schwartz. The 1st District spans the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland, as well as parts of Baltimore and Harford counties. Harris has held the seat since 2011.
Democrat Johnny Olszewski is running for reelection against Republican Dave Wallace. The 2nd District runs through northern Maryland, capturing much of Baltimore and Carroll counties, along with parts of Howard and Frederick County, and Baltimore City. Olszewski is running for a second term in Congress after spending six years as Baltimore County executive. His father was also a longtime Baltimore County elected leader.
Democrat Sarah Elfreth is running for reelection against Republican Berney Flowers. Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District covers most of Anne Arundel and Howard counties, and a small part of CarToll County. Elfreth is running for her second term representing the district after representing Annapolis in the Maryland State Senate.
Democrat Glenn Ivey is running for reelection against Republican George McDermott and the Green Party’s Sam Husseini. Maryland’s 4th Congressional District encompasses most of Prince George’s County and a small part of eastern Montgomery County. Ivey is running for his third term in Congress. He defeated McDermott by an 88.4 to 11.2% margin in 2024.
Democrat Adrian Boafo is running against Republican Chris Chaffee in the 5th District. Both candidates are running to replace longtime incumbent Steny Hoyer, who is retiring after holding the seat since 1981. Hoyer has endorsed Boafo, who has been a state delegate since 2022. Prior to that, Boafo served on the Bowie City Council. Chaffee is a Calvert County native. In 2024 he ran for a U.S. Senate seat but came in third in the Republican primary. He was the GOP nominee for Senate in 2022 but lost to Chris Van Hollen.
Democrat April McClain Delaney is running for reelection against Republican Robin Ficker and the Green Party’s Moshe Landman in the 6th District. McClain Delaney is running for a second term representing parts of Montgomery and Frederick counties, as well as western Maryland. She beat former congressman David Trone in the June primary. Ficker has run for numerous seats in public office in the past, most recently coming in second place in the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
Democrat Kweisi Mfume is running for reelection against Republican Scott Collier. Mfume has represented the 7th District, which spans much of Baltimore City and parts of Baltimore and Howard counties, since 2020, when he won a special election to replace the late Elijah Cummings. This is Mfume’s second stint representing the district.
Democrat Jamie Raskin is running for reelection against Republican Cheryl Riley and the Green Party’s Nancy Wallace. Raskin has represented the 8th District, which covers most of Montgomery County, along with parts of Howard County, since 2017.
All of the state House and Senate seats are up for grabs in Maryland. Voters will also elect leaders at the county level, including county executive and county council contests, as well as board of education and judicial races.
Democrat Allison Pickard, who represents the 2nd District in the county council, is running against Republican Dave Crawford, a businessman and volunteer firefighter to represent residents of Severn and Millersville. State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess is running unopposed for reelection as the county’s top prosecutor.
Democrat Jessica Fitzwater is running for reelection against Republican William Holtzinger. Fitzwater was first elected county executive in 2022, after serving two terms on the county council. Holtzinger is a former Frederick City mayor, and an attorney and civil engineer.
Democrat Vanessa Atterbeary is running against the Green Party’s Nater Kane. Atterbeary is currently a Maryland State Delegate. The race for state’s attorney sees Democrat Rich Gibson running uncontested.
Democrat Will Jawando is running against Republican Esther Wells for county executive. State’s Attorney John McCarthy is running for reelection uncontested.
County Executive Aisha Braveboy is officially running uncontested, though Tonya Sweat is mounting an organized write-in campaign. State’s attorney Tara Jackson is running uncontested.
For a full list of candidates for state and local offices visit the elections board’s website.
Maryland has three statewide referendum questions being put to voters.
Question 1: If approved, it would require the governor’s budget to include funding for all wages, benefits, and other employment terms negotiated in state employee union contracts, whether those terms were reached through bargaining or imposed by a neutral arbitrator.
Question 2: This asks if temporary substitute appointments to the commission on judicial disabilities can be appointed in certain situations.
Question 3: This is the most controversial referendum voters will deal with on a statewide basis. It clarifies that state constitutional requirements about the creation of state legislative districts does not also apply to congressional districts. Democrats have pushed for this as a response to mid-decade redistricting efforts in other states. Republicans say it’s an effort to further “gerrymander” districts so that all eight of the state’s districts are represented by Democrats.
Not all of Maryland’s counties have local referendums to consider. Locally, voters in Prince George’s, Howard and Frederick counties are being asked to decide local issues.
In all, there are 10 different questions for Prince George’s County voters. Here are a couple of the posed questions:
Question A: This asks voters whether the county can impose new taxes and fees on businesses the council deems harmful to community health. It targets liquor and tobacco stores, as well as self-storage businesses. A similar law was passed by the council earlier this year and allowed to take effect by County Executive Aisha Braveboy, who chose not to sign nor veto the bill. A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality has already been filed and there are concerns that even if it passes, it could get struck down over violations of the equal protection clause.
Question B: This would eliminate the two at-large seats on the county council, which were only created eight years ago. Supporters of the amendment argue term-limited council members are using these seats to get around a law that limits someone to no more than two consecutive terms in any particular seat, and that the cost of special elections to fill seats as a result of movement into these seats have been excessive. Opponents of the referendum say it provides more representation around the county to residents who might not be happy or feel represented by their district representative. The two Democrats who advanced to the general election also feel they’re being targeted by others on the council over ideological differences. If the referendum passes, it would take effect in 2030, meaning the council would remain at 11 members until then.
Voters in Howard County have two local referendums on their ballots. One would amend the county charter so that all gender-specific words like “he” or “her” are changed to gender-neutral words like “they” and “them.”
Voters in Frederick County have one question focused on term limits for the county council and county executive. If passed, county council members would be limited to three terms and the county executive to two.
There are three questions focused on administrative issues within county government.
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