Ensure Your Voting Rights

Montgomery County Election Director, Margaret Jurgensen, encourages registered voters to vote and offers assurances that voters’ rights will be protected. To help make the voting process smoother, whether you chose to vote during Early Voting (October 27 – November 1) or on Election Day (November 6), Jurgensen suggests that voters follow instructions and allow enough time to cast a ballot, especially during the peak voting hours immediately before and after the workday.

Jurgensen offers these Election Day reminders:

1. BE ON TIME – Polling hours for all Early Voting Centers are 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. (on Sunday, October 28, from 12 – 6 p.m.) Polling hours for all Election Day precincts are 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

2. IF VOTING ON ELECTION DAY, VOTE IN THE CORRECT PRECINCT – It is important for voters to go to the polling site for the precinct in which they are registered to vote. The correct polling location is listed above the mailing address on the sample ballot or you may contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections office at 240-777-VOTE or visit www.777vote.org or www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections (select Polling Place Locator on our home page).

3. IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, CHECK THE WAIT TIME PRIOR TO LEAVING YOUR HOME OR OFFICE – Voters in Montgomery County may quickly check the wait time at each of the five Early Voting Centers by visiting our website – www.777vote.org and viewing the Wait Time Dashboard scrolling display.

4. BE PREPARED, FILL OUT SAMPLE BALLOT AND TAKE TO THE POLLING PLACE – Sample ballots contain important information on which candidates will appear on a ballot, how to operate the voting machines, and where voters are assigned to vote. In addition, language for all ballot questions is contained in the sample ballot – review this carefully before going to vote to minimize time at the voting machine. Voters should read the sample ballot carefully, make selections, and take it to the polling place to use as a guide – the voting process will be easier as a result.

5. ID MAY BE REQUIRED – First-time voters in Montgomery County may be required to show proper identification. A driver’s license or official document including the voter’s name and address are acceptable. It is also helpful to bring voter registration cards, however, it is not required to vote.

Voters should not hesitate to ask for assistance. Election officials are trained to assist voters with physical disabilities and answer questions about the voting process. The ballot is available in both English and Spanish. Voters for whom English is a second language are encouraged to bring an interpreter to the polling place to help them with the voting process. In addition, if a mistake is made on a ballot, the voter should notify the election official immediately and corrective measures will be taken.

For clarification of these, or other voting questions, contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections at 240-777-VOTE.

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