LEONARDTOWN, MD – The St. Mary's County Board of Elections is reminding residents of important upcoming dates and resources related to the 2026 Gubernatorial General Election.

A recent change in the law requires the State Board of Elections and each local Board of Elections to refer to absentee ballots as "mail-in ballots" and absentee voting as "mail-in voting." This change does NOT affect the process of mail-in voting.

Upcoming dates for the 2026 Gubernatorial General Election

• Voter Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, by 5 pm in-office or 11:59 pm online

• Mail-In Ballot Request deadline (mail): Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by 8 pm by mail or 11:59 pm by fax/email

• Mail-In Ballot Request deadline (online): Friday, October 30, 2026, by 5:00 pm by mail or 11:59 pm fax/email

• Voter Registration Reopens: November 16, 2026

Online Voter Services

Register to vote, update voter registration information, request a mail-in ballot and check your polling place location at [www.elections.maryland.gov]www.elections.maryland.gov

Text Features

Text VOTE to 77788 to be sent a link to register to vote and/or update your voter registration.

Text VBM to 77788 to be sent a link to request a mail-in ballot application online

Mail-In Voting Information

To request a mail-in ballot use the online voter services and cell phone text features listed above or call or visit the Board of Election’s office located at 23250 Hollywood Rd. in Leonardtown.

New: You may request to be a permanent mail-in voter. Complete the oval on the mail-in application to receive mail-in ballots for all future elections.

Early Voting Information

Early Voting begins Thursday, October 22, 2026, and ends Thursday, October 29, 2026. There are three early voting locations:

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Ballot Drop Off Box

All drop box locations will be open and operational 24/7. The closing date to drop off is November 3, 2026, at 8 pm. There are seven drop-off box locations:

• Board of Elections Office, 23250 Hollywood Rd. Leonardtown, MD 20650

• Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, 24801 Three Notch Rd. Hollywood, MD 20636

• Great Mills High School, 21130 Great Mills Rd. Great Mills, MD 20634

• Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, 46900 S. Shangri-La Dr. Lexington Park, MD 20653

• Valley Lee Volunteer Fire Department, 45245 Drayden Rd. Valley Lee, MD

• Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, 28165 Hills Club Rd. Mechanicsville, MD 20659

• Spring Ridge Middle School, 19856 Three Notch Rd. Lexington Park, MD 20653

For more information on the St. Mary’s County Board of Elections, voter registration, ballot drop box or polling place locations, and more, please visit: www.stmaryscountymd.gov/elections.

Questions may be directed to elections@stmaryscountymd.gov or by calling (301) 475-4200 ext. 1625.