YOUTH AND THE VOTE

2026

Official Voting Website: https://elections.maryland.gov/

Maryland provides voter information tools to register to vote, check voter registration status, find polling places, view sample ballots, and learn about early voting and mail-in voting. The state also offers information about voter identification, election deadlines, ballot tracking, election results, and opportunities to participate in civic engagement.

Voter Registration: https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/

Check Your Voter Registration: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch

Find Your Polling Place and Voting Locations: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/2026_Polling_Places.html

How to Vote: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/

Early Voting Information: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/early_voting.html

Mail-In Voting: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html

Voter Identification and Registration Information: https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/

2026 Election Information and Deadlines: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/

Election Results: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/election_results.html

Track Your Mail-In Ballot: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch

Nonpartisan Voter Education (VOTE411): https://www.vote411.org/

League of Women Voters of Maryland: https://www.lwvmd.org/

Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/

Rock the Vote: https://www.rockthevote.org/

Election Protection and Voter Assistance: https://866ourvote.org/

Maryland Youth and Civic Engagement Resources: https://youth.gov/

Civic Engagement Opportunities: Maryland residents can get involved beyond voting by volunteering with voter education organizations, attending local government meetings, participating in community advocacy, learning about state and local policies, and helping eligible community members find reliable voting information.

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TOP STRATEGIES/INITIATIVES TO INCREASE REGISTRATION & TURNOUT OF YOUNG VOTERS

State Policies and Resources

• New laws expand early voting, mail-in voting, and drop-boxes across the state.
• Same-day registration and voting available.
• Pre-registration from 16.
• State ID rules and helpline for Maryland.

High school Initiatives

• Montgomery County Future Vote recruits high school students to register their peers, serve as Election Workers, and receive a stipend or Student Service Learning hours.
• Maryland General Assembly is considering legislation to recognize high schools with seals of Civic Excellence. 
• Maryland LWV voter registration site.  Trained volunteers actively promote voter registration and participation in schools and online.   
• Maryland student combats gun violence with Students Demand Action.

College and University initiatives

• Maryland Student and Military Voter Empowerment Act includes measures to encourage and facilitate registration and voting by college students in Maryland.
• State website for college and university voters.
• 25 Maryland campuses participated in ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
  • Loyola University won Platinum Award with 80% of eligible voters turning out in 2020 —up 32.5% over 2016.
  • Towson tied for the best plan nationally – a plan driven by departments, students, and partners.
• NSLVE data critical to setting goals and tracking and evaluating results. 2022 data not yet available.  
• MARYLAND CAMPUS VOTER GUIDE

OTHER FACTORS AND INFLUENCES

• LWV and NAACP protest racial gerrymandering of districts.