Voting Access Scorecard - Maryland
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Maryland. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Maryland ranks 4. Nice! But there's still more you can do to make sure everyone has the right to vote. Take action now!Overall score: 23.5 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Maryland State Board of Elections: http://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html?eligibility | N |
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| State offers Election Day registration Maryland State Board of Elections: http://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html?eligibility | N |
| State has automatic registration Maryland State Board of Elections: http://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html?eligibility | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Optional voter registration system. Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/get_involved/registration_volunteers.html | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Optional voter registration system. Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/get_involved/registration_volunteers.html | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html | V |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html | Y |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/absentee.html | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/absentee.html | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/absentee.html | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/absentee.html | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Maryland State Board of Elections: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1 | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Maryland State Board of Elections: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/votersearch | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Maryland State Board of Elections: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/votersearch | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/election_day_questions.html | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/election_day_questions.html | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form Maryland Revised Statutes 3-503: http://www.elections.state.md.us/laws_and_regs/documents/Election%20Law%202011.pdf | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.maryland.gov/press_room/Kobach_VR%20data%20request%2007022017.pdf | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/restoration.html | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/restoration.html | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/restoration.html | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Maryland Revised Statute § 9-102: http://www.elections.state.md.us/laws_and_regs/documents/Election%20Law%202011.pdf | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training Maryland Revised Statute § 10-206: http://www.elections.state.md.us/laws_and_regs/documents/Election%20Law%202011.pdf | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting_system/testing.html; http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting_system/faq.html ; http://www.elections.maryland.gov/voting_system/ | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Maryland State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting_system/index.html | Y |
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