Where, when and how to vote in Prince George's County

Early voting: Oct. 22 – Oct. 29

You can vote at any of Prince George's County's 13 early voting centers, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from Thursday, Oct. 22, through Thursday, Oct. 29, including Saturday and Sunday. Two are new this year: Baden Community Center in Brandywine and Trinity Assembly of God in Lanham.

Not registered, or moved? You can register, or update your address, and vote the same day at an early voting center. Bring one of these to prove where you live:

• Your MVA-issued license, permit or ID card
• Your change of address card
• A paycheck, bank statement, utility bill or other government document with your name and new address

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Election Day you vote at your assigned polling place. If you're in line at 8 p.m., you can still vote. The Board of Elections moved some precincts to new polling places this year, so check yours before you go: enter your address in the guide above, or use the State Board of Elections' polling place lookup.

You can also register and vote on Election Day at the polling place for your address, with the same proof of where you live. If you vote at another precinct's polling place, you'll cast a provisional ballot.

Voting by mail

Any registered voter can vote by mail; you don't need a reason. To have a mail-in ballot mailed to you, request it by Tuesday, Oct. 27: online, or by mail, fax or email so it's received by then. To download and print your ballot instead, request it by Friday, Oct. 30. You can also request one in person at the Board of Elections office, 1100 Mercantile Lane, Suite 115A, Largo, until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Request a ballot online.

Return your ballot by mail, postmarked by Election Day; it must arrive by 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and the return envelope is postage-paid. Or put it in any of the county's 39 ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. Nov. 3, including one at every early voting center and one at the Board of Elections office. You can also hand it in at any early voting center during early voting, or at any polling place on Election Day until 8 p.m.

Sign the oath on the return envelope, or your ballot won't count. If you forget, the Board will contact you, and you have until 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, to send a signed oath. If you requested a mail-in ballot and decide to vote in person, you'll vote a provisional ballot unless you've canceled your request. More from the Board of Elections.

What to bring

Most Maryland voters don't need to show ID: an election judge confirms who you are by your month and day of birth and your address. Some first-time voters will be asked for ID. If you are, show one of these:

• A current and valid photo ID: a Maryland driver's license, MVA ID card, student, employee or military ID card, U.S. passport, or any other state or federal government-issued ID card
• A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address, dated within three months of the election

Getting there

Where a GoPGC or Metro stop is within a quarter-mile of an early voting center or polling place, the guide names it and the routes that serve it, and the directions links open your maps app with transit directions. GoPGC buses, formerly TheBus, are free.

Accessibility

Every early voting center and polling place has a ballot marking device, with an audio ballot, large print and high-contrast displays; ask an election judge. You can bring someone to help you vote, as long as it isn't your employer or an agent of your employer, an officer or agent of your union, or a challenger or watcher, or you can ask two election judges to help. Ballots in Prince George's County are in English and Spanish. Questions: the Board of Elections, 301-341-7300.

About this guide

Early voting centers, drop boxes, each precinct's polling place and the voting rules come from the Maryland State Board of Elections and the Prince George's County Board of Elections; map points from the Maryland Department of Emergency Management; precincts and districts from the Maryland Department of Planning; stops and routes from GoPGC's and WMATA's published timetables; map geography from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Washington Clarion is not affiliated with the Board of Elections. Confirm details at princegeorgescountymd.gov.