Maryland Voting Age
From YRN
| Maryland Voting Age | |
|---|---|
| State: Maryland | |
| Law: Voting Age | |
| Info: Voting Age Info | |
| Other Maryland Laws: | |
| Abortion Age | |
| Blood Donation Age | |
| Boating Age | |
| Civil Rights and Age Discrimination | |
| Consent Age for Medical Procedures | |
| Curfew Age | |
| Drinking Age | |
| Driving Age | |
| Emancipation Law | |
| Employment Law | |
| Gambling Age | |
| Running for Office | |
| Sexual Consent Age | |
| Smoking Age | |
| Tattoos and Piercings | |
| Voting Age |
Contents |
Summary:
The voting age is 18 for general elections, but you can vote in primaries if you are 17 and turning 18 in time for the general election. 17-year-olds may not vote in special elections or city elections.
But it gets rather complicated, so see below for a detailed clarification.
Detailed Clarification
Age |
Party Affiliation |
County |
Voting Rights – Based on Advice of Attorney General |
Changes due to 2/8/08 Order by the Court of Appeals |
17 but will be 18 on or before 2008 Presidential General Election (November 4, 2008) |
Democratic or Republican |
County with non-partisan contests |
Since the voter will be 18 on or before the 2008 Presidential General Election and the voter is affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party, she can vote in the upcoming Primary Election. Since the county has non-partisan contests on the ballot, the voter must vote a provisional ballot. The ballot will be inspected by the local board of canvassers to ensure that no votes were cast for non partisan contests. If votes are cast for non-partisan contests those votes (but not the entire ballot) will not be counted. |
The voter is eligible to vote for both partisan and school board contests. If the voter is a Washington County or City of Cumberland voter, the voter is not eligible to vote for the ballot question or municipal election. The voter will vote a provisional ballot. The votes cast for partisan and school board contests on the provisional ballot will be counted in full. |
Democratic or Republican |
County without a non-partisan contest |
Since the voter will be 18 on or before the 2008 Presidential General Election and is affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party, he can vote in the upcoming Primary Election. Since there is no non-partisan contest in Prince George’s County, he can vote a regular ballot. |
No changes. The voter can still vote a ballot on the touchscreen voting unit. |
|
Unaffiliated or Affiliated with Other party |
County with non-partisan contests |
Since the voter is not affiliated with a party that nominates candidates at the primary election, he cannot register at this time and may not vote in the upcoming Primary Election. |
The voter is eligible to vote for school board contests. If the voter is a Washington County or City of Cumberland voter, the voter is not eligible to vote for the ballot question or municipal election. The voter will receive a provisional ballot. The votes cast for school board contests on the provisional ballot will be counted in full. |
|
Unaffiliated or Affiliated with Other party |
County without a non-partisan contest |
Since the voter is not affiliated with a party that nominates candidates at the primary election, he cannot register at this time and may not vote in the upcoming Primary Election. |
No changes. Since there are no non-partisan contests, the voter cannot vote in th Primary Election. |
|
17 but will be 18 after the presidential election |
Any party or unaffiliated |
Any county |
Since the voter will not be 18 by the 2008 Presidential General Election, she cannot vote in the upcoming Primary Election. |
No changes. |
Link:
Constitution
§ 3-102. Qualifications for voter registration.
Legal Wrangling
Maryland Court of Appeals February 8, 2008 Decision
Full Text:
CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND ARTICLE I ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. SECTION 1. All elections shall be by ballot. Every citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 years or upwards, who is a resident of the State as of the time for the closing of registration next preceding the election, shall be entitled to vote in the ward or election district in which he resides at all elections to be held in this State. A person once entitled to vote in any election district, shall be entitled to vote there until he shall have acquired a residence in another election district or ward in this State (amended by Chapter 99, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956; Chapter 784, Acts of 1969, ratified Nov. 3, 1970; Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978).
§ 3-102. Qualifications for voter registration.
(a) In general.- Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual may become registered to vote if the individual:
(1) is a citizen of the United States;
(2) is at least 18 years old or will be 18 years old on or before the day of the next succeeding general or special election;
(3) is a resident of the State as of the day the individual seeks to register; and
(4) registers pursuant to this title.
(b) Exceptions.- An individual is not qualified to be a registered voter if the individual:
(1) has been convicted of a felony and is actually serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment, including any term of parole or probation, for the conviction;
(2) is under guardianship for mental disability; or
(3) has been convicted of buying or selling votes.
[An. Code 1957, art. 33, § 3-102; 2002, ch. 291, §§ 2, 4; chs. 304, 305; 2005, ch. 572, § 1; 2007, ch. 159, § 2.]
