When does maryland count mail in ballots

In Maryland, mail-in ballots are counted on Election Day, which is typically the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. However, the exact timing of when mail-in ballots are counted can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the volume of ballots received.

Here's a general outline of the process:

1. Mail-in ballots are sent to voters by the Maryland State Board of Elections (MSBE) or their local election office.
2. Voters complete the ballot and return it to the MSBE or their local election office by the deadline, which is typically 8 p.m. on Election Day.
3. The MSBE or local election office sorts and verifies the mail-in ballots, checking for errors, invalid signatures, and other issues.
4. Once the ballots are verified, they are counted along with in-person votes at the polling place or at a central counting location.
5. The counting process typically begins around 7 a.m. on Election Day and continues throughout the day.

In Maryland, mail-in ballots are considered "received" when they are postmarked by the deadline and received by the election office within 10 days after the election. If a mail-in ballot is received after the deadline, it will not be counted.

It's worth noting that Maryland has a "no-excuse" absentee voting law, which means that any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot for any reason. This has led to a significant increase in mail-in voting in recent years, with over 40% of voters casting their ballots by mail in the 2020 general election.