2024 General Election Information

Become an Election Judge

Apply to become an Election Judge here.

Election judges are paid to help voters and to ensure a fair and accessible elections. Under Maryland law, you can serve as an election judge if you are:

• Age 16 or older*;
• Are a registered voter in Maryland;
• Physically and mentally able to work at least a 15-hour day;
• Willing to work outside your home precinct;
• Able to sit and/or stand for an extended period; and
• Can speak, read, and write English.
  • If you are bilingual or know several languages, this can also help voters in understanding the process.

* If you are 16 years old, you may be able to serve if you show your local board of elections that you are qualified to be an election judge and a parent or guardian gives permission.

If you have any questions regarding becoming an Election Judge, visit or contact the Howard County Board of Election at 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 200, Columbia MD 21046, call at 410-313-5820, or email at [email protected].

Become a Volunteer Poll Watcher

The Maryland Democratic Party is seeking volunteer poll watchers for election day and during early vote.  In less than three weeks, voters will begin casting their ballots in person. You can play a vital role in ensuring that every registered voter who comes to vote has the opportunity to vote! All you need is a phone with internet access and your commitment to free and fair elections (you will be trained over a Zoom session).

Go HERE for Early Vote Poll Coverage in Howard County and then select the time and the polling place you want to cover.

Election Day Poll Coverage to come.

Your Ballot (Click here to the Certified Sample Ballots)

Official 2024 Democratic Sample Ballot coming soon!

Candidates – The following candidates will appear on ballots throughout Howard County.

Federal Offices

President / Vice President

Kamala Harris / Tim Walz

Senate Representatives

U.S. Senate: Angela Alsobrooks

Congressional Representatives

District 3: Sarah Elfreth

Board of Education (depending on which County Council district you live in, one of the below candidates for Board of Education will appear on your ballot)

District 1: Meg Ricks
District 2: Antonia Watts*
District 3: Jolene Mosley*
District 4: Jen Mallo*
District 5: Andrea Chamblee

Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot – Vote Yes on Question 1 for the fundamental right to productive freedom in Maryland 

Maryland voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballot on the Reproductive Freedom referendum on Tuesday, November 5. A YES vote on Question 1 will amend Maryland’s constitution to ensure that everyone has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion access and birth control. 

Freedom in Reproduction – Maryland (FIRM) – Maryland Reproductive Freedom – Yes on 1 – https://mdreprofreedom.com/  | FIRM’s 2 flyer 1 page lit found HERE 

• From the 2023 Legislative Session there is one Constitutional Amendment question (PDF) that will appear on the November 5, 2024 general election ballots. During the 2024 Legislative Session additional questions may have been added. The Secretary of State is responsible for preparing and certifying the statewide ballot question language not later than Friday, August 2, 2024. Additionally, local ballot questions may appear in certain counties. When they become available, they will be added to this section of our website. 

Reproductive Justice Maryland – https://www.reproductivejusticemaryland.org

Vote For the Constitutional Amendment.

Charter Amendment on the Ballot – Vote Yes on Question A for the creation an independent Office of Inspector General.

Howard County voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballot the Charter Amendment to add an Office of the Inspector General. A Yes vote on Question A will amend the Howard County Charter to ensure that Howard County saves money and safeguards against fraud, waste, and abuse. 

Vote For the Charter Amendment.

Ballot Drop Boxes

As of now, mail-in ballots are arrive at voters mailing addresses. Voters who choose to utilize ballot drop boxes may submit their properly completed mail-in ballots at any official drop box in their county of residence. Ballots may be submitted from the time a ballot box is installed and opened until Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024, at 8 p.m. Ballot boxes will be locked promptly at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5th.

Locations for 10 Official Ballot Drop Boxes throughout Howard County. Find all Early Voting Polling Places, Election Day Polling Places, and Ballot Drop Boxes HERE,

• Gary J. Arthur Community Center
• West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department
• George Howard Building
• Meadowbrook Athletic Complex
• Bain 50+ Center
• Howard County Police Department – Scaggsville
• St John Baptist Church
• Howard County Board of Elections
• North Laurel Community Center
• Elkridge 50+ Center

Early Voting Locations – Thursday, Oct. 24 through Thursday, Oct. 31

During Early Voting, you may vote at any of the below locations. This policy is different from Election Day, where it is highly encouraged to go to the polling site assigned to you. Generally your polling site is the closest polling site in relation to your home.

5 Early Voting Locations in Howard County are as follows (online in Spanish here):

• Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD 21044
• Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723
• Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, 5001 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043
• North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723
• St John Baptist Church – Fellowship Hall, 9055 Tamar Drive, Columbia, MD 21045

Early voting will be held from Thursday, Oct. 24 through Thursday, Oct. 31. Early voting centers will be open each day during that window from 7am to 8pm including Saturday and Sunday.

Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 5th. from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

As long as you are in line at by 8 p.m. you will be able to vote. One of the easiest ways to know the location of your polling site on Election Day, is to use the State Board of Elections Voter Look-Up website. Location of Election Day polling sites can be found here, however, it is highly advised to used the State Board of Elections Voter Look-Up website to find your polling site.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please go to your designated polling location by looking it up at the above Voter Look-Up website.

Signs and Electioneering – Early Voting and Polling Places on Election Day

1. NO signs may be placed at any polling place or early voting center before 5pm the day before voting begins at any site.  Any signage posted before 5pm will be taken down.
2. ALL signs must be removed after early voting and election day by 8am the day following the end of each voting segment (Last day of early voting on October 31st and Election Day on November 5th.)
3. The “NO ELECTIONEERING” line is 100 feet from the front outside door(s) of the polling place and continues in a semi-circle at 100 feet all the way around said entrance(s).  For Early Voting, the “No Electioneering” signs will already be posted before 5pm, so they will be easily seen before you start to put signs out.  Please also remember that some “No Electioneering” lines MUST take into consideration public safety at some of our polling places, so the line may be moved slightly more or less than 100 feet to take into account the welfare of the people standing outside electioneering.  We do this for your protection.
4. When parking at any facility, DO NOT use the parking directly in front of a polling place.  Please use parking as far back as possible for each individual that is electioneering so that parking for voters is minimally impacted.
   If you are electioneering at Meadowbrook Athletic Complex for Early Voting, DO NOT park in front of the building.  You must park behind the building to give the voters ample parking up front.  We will ask people to move their vehicles or simply leave if this is not followed.
   
5. DO NOT place signs at the ends of entrances or exits to polling places or early voting centers.  Please allow space for people to see when coming into or exiting a site in their vehicle.  This is the #1 complaint that we receive during early voting- signage causing public safety issues.
   We will be placing signage in areas during Early Voting that will say, “No Political Signs in This Area.”  These signs are to ensure that our Early Voting Signs that are directional for voters, and areas that are to be kept clear for public safety are not used for political signs.  Any signs that we find in areas that we have placed our signs will be taken down. 

Any questions on the above can be referred to Guy Mickley, Election Director, at [email protected].