In 2010, Maryland’s pre-registration law took effect to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. Pre-registered 17-year-olds are allowed to vote in the Primary Election--excluding special and municipal elections--if they turn 18 on or before the General Election. The state also encourages pre-registered 16-year-olds to become involved by becoming an election judge--responsible for ensuring accessible and fair elections for all eligible voters by overseeing voting procedures.
As of 2018, Maryland became the 18th state to adopt Election Day Registration, allowing eligible citizens to register to vote and cast their ballots at the same time during the early voting period through election day.
Despite the state’s efforts to engage its citizens in the electoral process, more than half of the counties in Maryland have a pre-registration rate lower than 40%.
In Baltimore City County, which has one of the highest populations of 16- and 17-year-olds, the pre-registration rate is 18%. With one of the lowest populations of 16- and 17-year-olds, by contrast, Carroll County has the highest pre-registration rate at 46%.
