When will maryland start counting mail in ballots

In Maryland, mail-in ballots are counted on Election Day, just like in-person votes. The state's election officials have a process in place to ensure that all ballots, whether cast in person or by mail, are counted accurately and efficiently.

Here's how it works:

1. Mail-in ballots are sent to voters in advance, usually 21 days before the election.
2. Voters fill out the ballot and return it to the election office by mail or in person.
3. The election office receives and processes the mail-in ballots, verifying the voter's identity and ensuring that the ballot is complete and valid.
4. On Election Day, the election office begins counting the mail-in ballots, along with in-person votes cast at polling stations.
5. The counting process typically takes several hours, and the results are reported to the public as they become available.

In Maryland, mail-in ballots are counted on Election Day because the state uses a "same-day counting" system. This means that ballots are counted as they are received, rather than being set aside to be counted later.

It's worth noting that Maryland has a relatively high rate of mail-in voting, with over 20% of voters casting their ballots by mail in the 2020 general election. The state's election officials have implemented various measures to ensure the security and integrity of the mail-in voting process, including the use of secure envelopes and tracking systems to monitor the movement of ballots.