Dear Friend,
As you may know, the Maryland State Board of Elections announced that our state’s primary election on June 2 will be held largely by mail. Here is some important information about the new voting process:
- When Will I Get My Mail Ballot? Ballots were mailed to Maryland’s 4.1 million eligible registered voters beginning on May 1. Ballots will be postmarked in Minnesota (where Maryland’s mail vendor is based). By now, most eligible voters should have received ballots.
- How Do I Submit or Return My Completed Mail Ballot? A return envelope with pre-paid postage will be included with your mail ballot. Ballots must be postmarked by June 2 and returned via standard mail. Alternatively, you can drop off your mail ballot at an official drop box location by June 2. See here for a list of official drop box sites.
- Can I Track the Status of My Completed Mail Ballot? Yes. The Maryland Board of Elections has launched a portal that allows Maryland voters to confirm that their mail ballots were counted. To visit the portal, go to election.maryland.gov and click the “Look Up Your Voter Info” box in the middle of the page. Voters can also call 1-800-222-8683 to ask for the status of their ballots.
- What If I Don’t Receive My Ballot? Ballots will arrive through mid-May. If you don’t receive a ballot by May 22, you should contact the Maryland Board of Elections here. To confirm that you’re registered to vote and that you’re registered at the correct address, see here or call 1-800-222-8683 and ask a Board of Elections representative to check your registration.
- Can I Vote in Person? Yes. If you cannot return the ballot you receive in the mail, or if you do not receive a ballot in the mail, then you can vote at a designated vote center in your county. See here for a list of vote centers.
- Please Note: The Maryland State Board of Elections announced that all mail ballots have an incorrect election date — “April 28, 2020” — erroneously printed on the top of the ballot. Please disregard this error. The primary election takes place on June 2. Your ballot will be counted if it is postmarked by June 2.
See below for the latest roundup of news and information on COVID-19.
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Updates from Washington
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- Strengthening Food and Nutrition Assistance: The Maryland Congressional Delegation called on Congressional Leadership to expand and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the next COVID-19 relief package.
- Improving Safety in Federal Corrections Facilities: The Delegation urged Attorney General William Barr to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in federal correctional facilities and protect incarcerated individuals, federal employees and surrounding communities.
- Reinvigorating National Service: I cosponsored the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, which would create 750,000 new AmeriCorps national service jobs to help respond to the pandemic, including testing and contact tracing roles.
Updates in Maryland
- Maryland Amends Stay-At-Home Order: The State of Maryland has announced a gradual relaxation of our state’s stay-at-home order. Hospitals and licensed health care providers are now allowed to perform elective and non-urgent medical procedures. Marylanders can also participate in certain individual and small-group sports, like tennis, golf, recreational fishing and hunting, recreational boating and horseback riding. Maryland’s state-owned parks and beaches will also open — but only for walking and exercise.
- Maryland Public Schools Close for 2019-2020 School Year: Public schools in Maryland will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Our state was one of the first in the nation to close public schools to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Additional Federal Support for HBCUs: The Delegation announced more than $46 million in #COVID19 relief funding for Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and colleges that serve large populations of low-income students.
- Housing Support for Low-Income Maryland Families: The Delegation announced more than $16 million in federal funding to help protect Marylanders facing homelessness and to support low-income renters who are struggling as a result of COVID-19.
- Funding to Boost COVID-19 Testing at CHCs: The Delegation announced nearly $7 million to help 18 Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Maryland expand their capacity to test for COVID-19.
- More Federal Dollars for Telehealth: The Delegation announced more than $1.5 million in federal funding to support telehealth programs for Maryland health care providers and patients.
For regular updates and information about the coronavirus, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
For a full list of coronavirus-related resources, please visit my website.
Sincerely,
John P. Sarbanes
Maryland’s Third Congressional District
