Howard County, Maryland
Voting in Howard County, Maryland? Find registration links, ID rules, early and absentee voting options and your sample ballot here. Home to about 340,000 people, Howard County ranks 6th in population among Maryland's 24 counties. In Maryland, each county and Baltimore City has a local board of elections that handles registration, mail-in ballots and voting centers.
Next Election
April 25, 2028
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Register online or by mail at least 21 days before an election; same-day registration is available during early voting and on Election Day.
Why Voting Matters
In Howard County, the people who show up to vote decide who represents everyone. The next election for Howard County voters is Maryland's presidential primary on April 25, 2028; local elections can come sooner, so check your local election office. With professional and technical services and health care among the county's biggest employers, issues like broadband and innovation are decided by the officials voters choose.
About 180,000 people voted for president in Howard County in 2024 (about the same as the 183,000 cast in 2020). That equals roughly 69% of the county's estimated 263,000 adults, above the statewide rate of about 61%.
Put another way, about 82,900 adults in Howard County sat that election out. Not all of them can vote, but if even 5% of them did, that would be roughly 4,140 more ballots, often more than the margin in races for local councils, school boards, the legislature or Congress.
Howard County packs about 1,354 people into each square mile across 251 square miles, so a single precinct can hold thousands of voters. The county is home to about 5.4% of Maryland's population.
ZIP codes in or partly in Howard County include 20701, 20723, 20759, 20763, 20777, 20794, 20833 and 21029, plus 20 more. Check that your registration is current, look up your sample ballot, and make a plan to vote. Then ask a friend or family member in Howard County to do the same.
Voter Assistance Resources
Who runs elections in Howard County? In Maryland, each county and Baltimore City has a local board of elections that handles registration, mail-in ballots and voting centers. For registration, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots, contact the Howard County local board of elections.
Statewide directory, Maryland State Board of Elections' local boards directory:
https://www.elections.maryland.gov/about/county_boards.html
You can also preview a personalized ballot at Vote411.org.
Free, nonpartisan help is available before and on every Election Day: call or text the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Voters with disabilities in Howard County can ask for an accessible voting machine, curbside voting where offered, and help from a person of their choice. If you run into barriers, contact Disability Rights Maryland, Maryland's Protection and Advocacy agency, at (443) 692-2492. VoteRiders (844-338-8743) offers free help with voter ID.
Need a ride? Many local transit agencies and ride services offer free or discounted rides to the polls on Election Day, so check what is available before the next election. See our Maryland voter page for statewide options. Details can change, so confirm with the official election office.
Military and overseas voters can get help from the Federal Voting Assistance Program at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or fvap.gov.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Howard County. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. County and municipal election offices recruit and train their own workers, and the EAC's Help America Vote page links to yours. Find out how to sign up:
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
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