Pre-18 voter registration in
Maryland
In Maryland 78,118
people turn 18 every year.
Marylanders can 
pre-register before turning 18.
To register to vote in Maryland, you must be: 16 years old. That means all eligible seniors, juniors and most sophomores in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18*.
*In Maryland, 17-year-olds can vote in primaries if they will be 18 by Nov 3, 2026.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote. 
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in Maryland
Upcoming Elections:
- Jun 23rd, 2026 - Maryland Primary Election (Register by Jun 2nd, 2026)
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - Maryland General Election (Register by Oct 13th, 2026)
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for Maryland.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in Maryland.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
If you have a current, valid Maryland driver's license or a Motor Vehicle Administration identification card (MVA ID), you must enter your driver's license or identification number. If you do not have a current, valid Maryland driver's license or MVA ID, you must enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in Maryland you must:
be a United States citizen
be a Maryland resident
be at least 16 years old (you must be at least 18 years old on or before a general election to vote)
not have been convicted of buying or selling votes
not be currently serving a sentence of imprisonment for a felony conviction
not be under guardianship for mental disability or if you are, you have not been found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes:
current and valid photo identification or
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address (dated within three months)
More information here
Online Instructions
You need an ID issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and a Social Security number to use Maryland's online voter registration system.
More information here.
Maryland High School Educators!!!
Support your students’ voter registration effort with our free toolkit.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Apr 1st, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Mar 27th, 2026.
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Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
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