Maryland has been and continues to be committed to making the electoral process open and accessible to all voters, including voters with disabilities. Maryland's voting system for polling place voting is accessible for most voters with disabilities, and over 92% of Maryland's polling places are accessible to voters with disabilities.

Starting in 1985, State election officials developed, with input from advocates for voters with disabilities, a survey form to evaluate polling places. This survey form enables the State Board and local boards of elections to monitor accessibility of polling places, make temporary corrections to ensure that a polling place is accessible on Election Day, and, upon request and whenever possible, assign voters with disabilities to a nearby accessible precinct with the same ballot style.

Is my polling place accessible?

Use the voter look-up website to find out if your polling place is accessible. If your polling place is not accessible, there will be a list of the reasons why it is not accessible to help you determine whether the polling place is accessible for you.

What can I do if my polling place is not accessible?

Before Election Day

You can ask to be reassigned to an accessible polling place with your same ballot type or request an absentee ballot. To request reassignment or an absentee ballot, complete the Request for Polling Place Change or Absentee Ballot (PDF) and submit it to your local board of elections. The deadline to submit this form is 21 days before the election. The deadline for the 2012 Primary Election is March 13, 2012, and the deadline for the 2012 General Election is October 16, 2012.

During Early Voting

You can vote during early voting. All of the early voting centers in Maryland are accessible for voters with disabilities.

On Election Day

You may vote by absentee ballot, but on election day, you must go to your local board of elections office to receive an absentee ballot. You may either complete the Late Absentee Ballot Application and take the form with you or get the form at your local board of elections.

Absentee Ballot

If you prefer to vote by absentee ballot, you must complete the Request for Change of Polling Place or Absentee Ballot form (PDF).

Is the voting system accessible to voters with disabilities?

The touchscreen voting system used in Maryland is accessible to most voters with disabilities. Using a headset and keypad, blind voters and voters with visual impairments are able to vote independently and secretly by listening to the ballot selections and making selections using the keypad. High contrast ballots and magnified or enlarged ballots are also available. For voters who prefer or need to sit while voting, the screen can be adjusted to accommodate this need.

On the voting unit, you can choose the high contrast ballot and the magnified or enlarged ballot. To use the audio ballot option, you simply ask an election judge for this option. You will not be asked why you need this option and will not fill out additional paperwork. Election judges will be available to answer questions and, if needed, provide assistance.

Can someone help me vote?

Yes, if you have a disability or are unable to read English. You may either bring someone with you to help as long as that person is not your employer, an agent of your employer, an officer or agent of your union, or a challenger or watcher or two election judges can assist you.