{"id":147,"date":"2018-04-06T19:01:39","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T19:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/?page_id=147"},"modified":"2025-02-08T16:33:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T16:33:52","slug":"voter-rights","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/voter-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Voter Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Voting is one of the most important activities that an ex-offender can engage in to fully reenter the community.  While incarcerated, people are not only removed physically from their family and community, but their voices are silenced in the decision-making process that is our democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Maryland, many ex-offenders, along with supporting organizations and individuals, lobbied to have voter rights restored to felons. In February, 2016, the General Assembly was able to narrowly override the veto of Governor Larry Hogan in order to expand those voting rights. Through those efforts, voting rights have been restored to felons on probation or parole, giving approximately 40,000 felons the right to vote.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Click on this website  find out if your are registered to vote, request a duplicate voter registration card, find out where to vote, find out your voting districts, find out your local board of elections, see the status of your mail-in or provisional ballot, and view a sample ballot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryland State Board of Elections<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD!  REGISTER TO VOTE!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

WHO MAY REGISTER TO VOTE IN MARYLAND?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

You may register to vote in Maryland if ALL<\/strong> of the following facts are true:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You are a US citizen*; and<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. You are a Maryland resident; and<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. You are not disqualified from voting; and<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. You are at least 16 years old.  (You can register at age 16, but you generally cannot vote until age 18.  The one time you can vote while under age 18 is in a primary election that leads to a general or special election that will take place when you are at least age 18.)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    WHO IS DISQUALIFIED FROM VOTING IN MARYLAND?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

    You are disqualified from voting if:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. You are currently incarcerated<\/strong> for a felony conviction<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. You are under guardianship for mental disability AND the appropriate court has found by clear and convincing evidence that you cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process; or<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. You have been convicted of buying or selling votes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      *Note: Some municipalities in Maryland (such as Barnesville and Tacoma Park) allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

      I HAVE A FELONY CONVICTION.  AM I ABLE TO VOTE?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

      Yes.  As of March 10, 2016 voting rights of people with a felony conviction are automatically restored after they have served their sentence, even if they are on parole or probation.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      I HAVE A CONVICTION, BUT DID NOT SPEND TIME IN PRISON.  DO I STILL HAVE VOTING RIGHTS?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

      If a person has a conviction but receives NO<\/strong> time in prison (that is, has probation only), that person\u2019s voting rights are NOT<\/strong> suspended at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

      HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

      If you have never been registered to vote, you may do so on-line or by filling out and submitting the voter registration application to the Board of Elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

      WHERE CAN I GET A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

      You can access the voter registration application on-line at and fill it out and mail in.  <\/span><\/p>\n

      PLEASE NOTE: YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT A VALID ORIGINAL SIGNATURE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      http:\/\/elections.state.md.us\/voter_registration\/documents\/English_Internet_VRA.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

      Use this form:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. To register to vote in Maryland or<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. To change your party affiliation or<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. To change your name or<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. To change your address<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        You can also obtain a voter registration form and register to vote through the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) when you apply for your driver license or ID card, or change your address.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Many libraries and community organizations have voter registration applications, so ask.<\/span><\/p>\n

        WHAT DOCUMENTATION WILL I NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

        In order to register to vote, you must have a valid driver\u2019s license or a current MVA ID card.  If you don\u2019t have either, you will need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.<\/span><\/p>\n

        WHEN DO I NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE AN ELECTION?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

        You must register to vote at least 21 days before the next election.<\/span><\/p>\n

        WHERE DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

        In Maryland, you can register to vote online<\/strong>, by<\/strong> mail, <\/strong>and in<\/strong> person <\/strong>at your local <\/a>Board of Elections. You can also process your voter registration at your local MD MVA office when you complete any driver’s license transaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

        IS THERE A FEE TO REGISTER TO  VOTE?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

        No, there is no fee.<\/span><\/p>\n

        To Register Online:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

        If you would like to register online, use the Maryland Online Voter Registration System<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n