Here’s the exact, official 2026 Maryland election schedule for the gubernatorial primary — straight from the Maryland State Board of Elections and Ballotpedia. Always confirm with a trusted source, but these are the certified dates.
⭐ Maryland’s 2026 Primary Election Day
📅 Primary Election Day: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
🕖 Polls open: 7:00 AM
🕗 Polls close: 8:00 PM
(If you’re in line by 8 PM, you can vote.)
This is the statewide primary for Governor, U.S. House, state legislature, and all other partisan offices.
🗳️ Early Voting Period
📅 Early Voting Runs:
Thursday, June 11 → Thursday, June 18, 2026
🕖 Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
Maryland allows any voter to vote early at any early‑voting center in their county.
✉️ Mail‑In Voting Deadlines
(These are the standard Maryland deadlines; SBE will finalize exact 2026 cutoffs closer to the date.)
- Mail‑in ballot request deadline (online/mail): Typically about 1 week before Election Day
- Mail‑in ballot request deadline (in person): Usually the day before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline: Must be postmarked by Election Day and received within the legal window
SBE will publish the final 2026 mail‑in deadlines, but the structure will match prior cycles.
📝 Voter Registration Deadline
📅 Deadline to register online or by mail: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
(Mail‑in forms must be postmarked by this date.)
Maryland also allows same‑day registration during early voting and on Election Day.
🗂️ General Election (for reference)
📅 Tuesday, November 3, 2026
The winner of the Republican primary and the Democratic primary will face off in the fall election and they will be joined by Andy Ellis, the Green Party candidate. The Green Party does not have a primary election so they can file and then be on the general ballot in the fall.
It is anticipated that the Green Party should pull a bigger statewide vote than the Republican party, which would entitle them to ballot position in the next primary.