The rescheduled Maryland Primary Election will be held on June 2, and ballots will be mailed to all registered voters beginning this week. Originally scheduled for April 28, the election was postponed and methods changed as protection from the Coronavirus pandemic.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a Proclamation April 10 authorizing the use of alternative voting methods for the state’s 2020 Primary due to the health emergency caused because of the coronavirus, Covid 19.
Voters do not have to request ballots; they will be mailed automatically to the address the Maryland Board of Elections has on file. If, however, you are not registered, do not know if you are registered or want to check, visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections/index2.html
All Marylanders are encouraged to vote by mail – “To reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, we recommend that voters who can vote by mail do so, it says on the Maryland State Board of elections website.
A postage-paid envelope is included with the ballot to make returning easier.
It is important to mark ballots with black pen and, “you must sign the outer envelope, or your vote may not count!,” according to an email from the office of Representative David Trone, who represents Maryland’s 6th District, and about half of Potomac.
Returned ballots have to be postmarked on or before June 2, but there are ballot drop box locations open day and night from May 21 to June 2 at 8 p.m. if voters want to drop the ballot off themselves.
County drop box locations are:
- Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road
- Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike
- Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, One Veterans Place Silver Spring
- Activity Center at Bohrer Park Social Hall, 506 S. Frederick Avenue Gaithersburg
- Montgomery County Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue Gaithersburg
Although voters are strongly urged to vote by mail, there are four polling sites open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.
“Voters who can vote by mail are asked to participate in mail-in voting to help avoid long lines and to protect the health and safety of those who must vote in person,” according to the Montgomery County Board of Elections website.
“Those voters who cannot vote by mail may visit one of these four locations on Election Day and shall comply with the directive of the Governor regarding wearing a face mask or other face covering.”
The in-person voting sites are:
- Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
- Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
- Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg
- Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road
If you do not receive a ballot by May 15, contact elections@montgomerycountymd.gov.
The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3 with Early Voting Thursday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 29.
For more information, email elections@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-8500.