The November 3, 2020 election mission is to “Stay Safe, Stay Home and Vote by Mail” because of concerns about the COVID-19 Pandemic and impact to voters and election workers.
Your vote matters! Montgomery County wants the election process to go as smoothly as possible amidst this pandemic. The more people who vote by mail, the shorter the wait times at early voting and election day voting sites. Soon all registered voters will be receiving an application to request a mail-in ballot.
You can request a mail-in ballot now by texting the letters VBM to 77788 or by visiting the Board of Elections website at 777vote.org. The deadline to request a vote by mail ballot is Oct. 20.
Mail-in ballots will begin arriving as early as the end of September, and there will be about 40 drop boxes available around the County to drop your ballot off if you would prefer that over the U.S. mail. In September, the county will list the locations of the boxes.
Montgomery County officials would like to reassure residents that drop boxes are safe – they will be secured to protect your ballot from fraud, and they are not a concern as a transmitter of COVID-19.
If you are not registered to vote, it is not too late. The deadline for voter registration is Oct. 13. Register here.
In this message from County Executive Marc Elrich he encourages all residents to request a mail in ballot and vote by mail.
To vote by mail, you must request a ballot. Ballots will not be automatically mailed to voters for the November 3, 2020 election.
Vote by Mail applications are projected to be mailed August 24, 2020 through August 28, 2020. Ballots will be mailed in late September, with a target date of September 24, 2020. Unlike the Primary Election, a ballot will not automatically be sent to you. You must request a vote by mail ballot. After completing your application and receiving your ballot, voters are strongly encouraged to return their ballot as soon as they receive it.
The two best methods for returning your Vote by Mail ballot are as follows:
#1- Place your ballot in the United States Postal System mail, using the postage prepaid return envelope that you will be provided.
#2- Place your return envelope and ballot in one of the County’s drop boxes, described below.
Do not wait until the last minute to return your ballot, please. You are strongly encouraged to mail the voted ballot no later than October 28, 2020 to allow the US Postal Service time to deliver the mail in time. Ballots must be postmarked the date of the election, November 3, 2020. The Board encourages voters to drop your ballot at one of the many “Vote by Mail” Drop Boxes. The Board hopes to be able to install the drop boxes in early October and they will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Drop Boxes are located at the Early Voting Centers, the Board of Elections and the City of Rockville. The Board is attempting to add locations.
You can find more information about requesting a ballot and other frequently asked questions on the Montgomery County Board of Elections website here- Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Early voting will be available for the General Election starting Monday, October 26, 2020, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm through Monday, November 2, 2020, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm. The eleven early voting locations are as follows:
• Activity Center at Bohrer Park
• Damascus Community Rec Center
• Executive Office Building
• Germantown Community Rec Center
• Jane E. Lawton Community Rec Center
• Marilyn Praisner Community Rec Center
• Mid-County Community Rec Center
• Potomac Community Rec Center
• Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department (The Ballroom)
• Silver Spring Civic Building
• Wheaton Library & Community Rec Center
These locations will also be open on Election Day November 3, 2020 from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm.