With the 2024 election drawing heightened attention to mail-in ballots and voting accuracy, Maryland election officials and voting experts are urging residents to be prepared for a potential delay in results. Maryland’s paper-based voting system, which has been in place since 2016, will be utilized again, with all ballots accounted for and verified through extensive post-election audits. These audits have continually confirmed that votes are counted correctly, and final tallies are accurately reported, ensuring public trust in the process.
For national results, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, highlights that determining the winner could take longer this year, particularly in close races. A range of state-specific voting rules influences the time required to process votes, including whether mail-in ballots can be counted ahead of Election Day and whether ballots postmarked by Election Day are still accepted after.
“Whether they can start counting mail-in ballots before or on Election Day, that’s critical,” Stewart said. She added that the volume of mail-in ballots, varying acceptance rules, and state-specific processes introduce complexities to the election outcome timeline.
In Maryland, the process for counting mail-in ballots began in mid-October, with the state accepting ballots postmarked by Election Day until 10 a.m. on Nov. 15. Maryland officials report a significant volume of mail-in ballots this year. By late Sunday, over 600,000 ballots had been returned, while another 260,000 requested ballots were still outstanding. The state has also seen a robust early voting turnout, with nearly 1 million Marylanders casting ballots in person during the eight-day early voting period.
Local election boards across Maryland will meet after Election Day in sessions known as “canvasses,” where they will continue counting remaining mail-in and provisional ballots. These sessions, which are open to the public, include representatives from both major political parties, underscoring the transparency and bipartisan integrity of the process. Stewart emphasized the dedication of the individuals conducting the canvass, describing them as essential, hardworking members of the community.
“These are our neighbors,” Stewart said. “These are folks who are part of our community, who are doing an incredible civic duty to get this done, often working long hours to do this; 15, 16 or more hours to get this done.”
Marylanders interested in observing the counting process can find details about local canvassing sessions, as well as guidelines for public observers, on the state Board of Elections website at Elections.Maryland.gov. Election officials urge Marylanders to respect the process and to remain patient, as final results may take several days beyond Election Day.
