Maryland · MD · Voting & elections
Maryland: Do you need an ID to vote?
No ID document required
Maryland election judges confirm identity by asking for the voter's birth month and day and checking their address. Most voters show no ID.
The State Board of Elections says only some first-time voters are asked for ID, and those voters can use a photo ID or a current document with their name and address dated within three months of the election. That comes from the federal rule for new registrants, not a general state requirement. A 2026 bill that would have required photo ID (HB 964) got a committee hearing, and the legislature's site records no vote on it.
What the law says
establish the identity of the voter by requesting the voter to state the month and day of the voter's birth
Sources
- Md. Code, Election Law § 10-310 Official · mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland State Board of Elections, Election Day questions Official · elections.maryland.gov
- Maryland HB 964 (2026) Official · mgaleg.maryland.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Maryland State Board of Elections
- Phone
- 410-269-2840
- Website
- elections.maryland.gov
How bordering states compare
- Delaware ID required, non-photo acceptedDelaware asks for proof of identity but not photo ID; a voter without ID can sign an affidavit and vote.
- Pennsylvania No ID document requiredPennsylvania voters show ID only the first time they vote at a polling place; returning voters do not.
- Virginia ID required, non-photo acceptedVirginia asks for ID from a list that includes non-photo documents; voters without one may sign a statement and vote.
- West Virginia Photo ID requestedWest Virginia asks for photo ID since 2025, but voters without one can be vouched for or vote provisionally with signature matching.