Board of Elections
Voter and Election Resources
Public Notice of Risk-Limiting Audit
The Howard County Board of Elections will conduct a risk-limiting audit (RLA) of the 2026 Primary Election on July 21, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Public Notice of RLA (PDF)
Important!
Election officials have made changes to County, State, and Congressional districts.
District boundaries are updated every ten years based on how the population changes.
Contact List Registration
In accordance with Section 2-303 Paragraph (H)(2), as enacted by HB 410, the Howard County Board of Elections is providing individuals and organizations the opportunity to register their email address so as to receive written notice of the meeting when the Board will be discussing proposed changes to the location(s) of (a) polling place(s).
NOTE: This contact list is for registering to receive a notification in advance of any Board meeting in which proposed polling place changes will be discussed prior to a vote.
Request for Voter Services
If you would like a representative of the Howard County Board of Elections to present at or attend an event, or provide Voter Registration Distributor (VRD) training, please use this form to make your request. We need you to provide contact information for the event organizer, the date(s) of the event, the start time (and end time) of the event, the location of the event, and a general description of the event. Once we review this information, we will contact your organization/group to confirm our attendance and to determine what additional resources will be needed for the event/training.
You can also contact us about attending your event or providing VRD training by email at hocovoteroutreach@howardcountymd.gov, or calling the office at 410-313-5820 and asking to speak to a staff member about Voter Outreach.
Please note that the Howard County Board of Election is a non-partisan governmental agency and does not endorse or support any political party, candidate, organization or viewpoint.
Come visit us at any of the following events where we will be conducting voter outreach for information on voting, voter registration, and working as an election judge.
Voter Outreach Event Schedule
August 2026
Saturday, August 8, 2026 thru Saturday, August 15, 2026 - Howard County Fair - Howard County Fair Grounds, Main Building, West Friendship
Howard County Election Board
Emergency Board Meeting
Emergency Virtual Board Meeting - May 21, 2026- 9:30 AM
The Howard County Board of Elections will hold an emergency virtual meeting of the board for the sole purpose of discussing for approval the Challengers and Watchers Policy- 2026.1. A copy of the policy is provided below.
Advanced sign-up for any member of the public wishing to speak at this board meeting will be temporarily suspended due to the emergency nature of the meeting. Anyone in attendance may speak.
Official Announcement - Emergency Open Meeting (PDF)
Agenda (PDF)
Google Meet Joining Info: meet.google.com/pon-kxmi-qxs
Phone number: 1-406-530-5566 (Pin #390730039)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HowardCountyBoardofElections-B
Challengers and Watchers Policy (PDF)
Bylaws
Bylaws for the Howard County Board of Elections (PDF) (adopted March 2024) (amended March 2026)
Regular Dates and Times
Regular Open Board Meetings are the fourth Monday of each month at 4:00 PM unless otherwise noted. All meetings will be held both in person and virtually unless otherwise noted and announced in the Official Monthly Public Meeting announcement. See the public announcements for additional information. All meetings are subject to change and are open to the public.
2026 Election Board Meeting Calendar (PDF) (revised May 2026)
Upcoming Regular Open Meeting
Due to the Memorial Day Holiday observance, the next Regular Open Board Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Part of the Board meeting may be conducted as an Executive Session regarding any subject matter permitted pursuant to Maryland's Open Meetings Act General Provisions Article Section 3-305 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Meetings are open to the public and will be held in person and virtually via Google Meet.
Official Announcement - Regular Open Meeting (PDF)
Tentative Agenda (PDF)
Director's Report (PDF)
Supplemental Reports (May 18, 2026 meeting)
- Postcard Notice to Mail-In Ballot Voters (PDF)
- SBE Statement on Mail-In Ballots (PDF)
- Taylor Statement on Mail-In Ballots (PDF)
- Absentee Ballot Rejection Reasons and Examples (PDF)
- Challengers and Watchers Policy (PDF)
- Definition of a Vote (PDF)
- Election Judge Parity Report by District/Precinct as of May 18, 2026 (PDF)
- Provisional Sample Canvassing Minutes (PDF)
If you intend to address the Board of Elections at their monthly meeting, you must register to speak by the close of business of the Thursday immediately preceding the Monday meeting. You will be required to upload a copy of your comments for the public record when you register.
Please be aware that pursuant to the Maryland Election Law Article § 2-208 concerning open meetings, this meeting will be streamed live on YouTube, recorded, and archived by the Howard County Board of Elections. This recording may capture your image, voice, and any statements or actions made by you while attending the meeting.
Click the following link to view the Board Meeting via live stream on YouTube: View Board Meeting Live Stream
Regular Open Board meetings are now available via live stream. To view the live stream, click on the "View Board Meeting Live Stream" button below. Live streams of Regular Open Board meetings will also be saved and available for viewing after the meeting is adjourned.
Location
Board meetings will be held both virtually and in person, unless otherwise indicated in the official announcement.
Howard County Board of Elections
9770 Patuxent Woods Dr. Suite 200
Columbia, MD 21046
Ann M Balcerzak, Esq - President
Donna K Thewes - Vice President
Timothy J. Mummert, Esq. - Member
Raymond M Rankin - Member
Paul P. Rivers - Member
Lorraine Lawrence-Whittaker - Board Counsel
2026
Meeting Minutes for January 29, 2026 (PDF)
- Executive Session Meeting Minutes for January 29, 2026 (PDF)
- Executive Session Closing Statement by Presiding Officer for January 29, 2026 (PDF)
- Director's Report for January 29, 2026 (PDF)
March 2, 2026
- Agenda (PDF)
- Director's Report (PDF)
- Regular Open Board Meeting Minutes (PDF)
March 23, 2026
- Agenda (PDF)
- Director's Report (PDF)
- Regular Open Board Meeting Digest (PDF)
Supplemental Reports (March 23, 2026 meeting)
- Election Judge Parity Report by District/Precinct (PDF)
- Complete Polling Place List for 2026 Gubernatorial Primary (PDF)
- Monthly Statistical Report 03-02-2026 through 03-22-2026 (PDF)
- Election Judge Training Schedule
- NON/UNA Primary Postcard
April 27, 2026
- Agenda (pending)
- Director's Report (pending)
- Regular Open Board Meeting Minutes (pending)
Supplemental Reports (April 27, 2026 meeting)
Information and Resources
Voter registration and polling place look-up tools and resources for voters and candidates.
Maryland Voter Registration and Polling Place Look-Up Tool
Howard County 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election Polling Place List (PDF)
Howard County 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Mail-In Ballot Drop Box Locations
Howard County 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election Early Voting Center
Howard County 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election Day Polling Place (Google Maps)
Howard County Interactive Map (select Political Boundaries -> Election Sites)
2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election
Early Voting - Thursday, June 11, 2026 through Thursday, June 18, 2026
Election Day - Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Early Voting Centers and Election Day Polls open from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM each day
2026 Gubernatorial General Election
Early Voting - Thursday, October 22, 2026 through Thursday, October 29, 2026
Election Day - Tuesday November 3, 2026
Early Voting Centers and Election Day Polls open from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM each day.
Call the Howard County Board of Elections at (410) 313-5820 to make an appointment to file for candidacy, or to learn more about running for office.
Click "Learn More" to find out more about candidacy and campaign finance, or to file online.
Statewide election results, both current and past, are available on the State Board of Election website. The results are available for primary and general elections, and reports are available in PDF or Excel format in some cases. Proofing ballots are also available for the most recent election(s).
The Howard County Board of Elections can assist your group or organization with Voter Outreach events, including voter registration drives and Election Judge recruitment. Click below to access the voter outreach request form for the State of Maryland.
For an overview of how we protect or election systems and data, Click Here
60 Minutes: When Russian hackers targeted the U.S. election infrastructure
For information on voter turnout and election results, visit the State Board of Elections Press Room: Recent Releases and Statistics
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Click below to go to the online Voter Registration system.
FAQs
The State Board of Elections does not have regulatory authority over the placement or location of campaign signs. However, there are State and local laws that regulate where and when you can put up campaign signs.
Placement of signs on State roads and highways is regulated by the State Highway Administration. For Howard County, contact the following District Office to obtain additional information:
5111 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
(301) 624-8122 or (800) 635-5119
Placement of signs on city and county roads and on public property in the cities and counties is regulated by local ordinances. According to Subtitle 5 - Signs, Section 3.503 - Exemptions of the Howard County Code of Ordinances:
(f) Political Campaign Signs. Signs announcing candidates seeking public political office and other data pertaining thereto shall be permitted up to a total area of nine square feet for each premises in a residential district and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial district. These signs shall be located only on private property and shall be no less than 15 feet from the nearest edge of the pavement and no less than 100 feet from the nearest curb intersection of any street or road. These signs may be displayed 60 days prior to and seven days after the election for which intended. In cases where a final election follows within 75 days of a primary election, those candidates who won in the primary election may continue to display their signs during the interim period and up to seven days after the final election.
It is acceptable for candidates to use any combination of their name on a political sign, as long as it appears on their Certificate of Candidacy. For example, John Smith can have signs that say: "Vote for John," "Vote for Smith," or "Vote for John Smith."
No. Political signs do not require a permit, but they may not be placed in the median or within SHA right-of-way, just as other signs are prohibited. Signs may not be posted more than 45 days prior to any election. Unsuccessful candidates in the primary election must remove their signs within 15 days after the primary. All signs must be removed within 15 days after the general election. Political signs are prohibited along interstate highways.
According to EL § 10-101(a)(3)(iii)(2) campaign signs can be posted at polling places, including Early Voting Centers, at 5:00 pm on the day before election day or the day before early voting starts. All campaign signs must be removed from polling places and Early Voting Centers by 8:00 am the day after election day or the day after early voting ends.
Generally, you must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican party to vote in the primary election. If there are non-partisan offices that are elected in a primary election (i.e., school board), any voter can vote for these offices. Contact your local board of elections for additional information.