ANNAPOLIS — Local boards of elections across Maryland, including those serving Southern Maryland voters, will begin canvassing mail-in ballots for the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election on Monday, June 1.
Canvassing involves opening returned ballots, verifying signatures and eligibility, and counting valid votes. The process is bipartisan and open to public observation. Local boards post schedules, times and locations on their websites. Results are not released until after polls close at 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 23.
All mail-in ballots postmarked on or before June 23 will be included in the count. Ballots can be returned through designated drop boxes, at early voting centers during the June 11-18 early voting period, at polling places on Election Day, at local board offices or by mail.
Voters who requested a mail-in ballot before May 14 received a replacement ballot in the mail the week of May 24. Those voters must use only the replacement ballot and discard the original. The replacement packet includes instructions for completing and returning the ballot.
“Mail-in voting is a legal, secure, and transparent method to cast your vote in this election,” said State Administrator Jared DeMarinis. “June 1 is the first day in a transparent and deliberative process to canvass every eligible mail-in ballot and ensure a free, fair, and secure electoral process. Please remember to rely on the Maryland State Board of Elections and your local election officials as your trusted sources of information.”
Southern Maryland voters in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties can find specific canvassing dates and locations by visiting their local board of elections websites or contacting the offices directly. The three counties’ boards handle mail-in ballots for residents and coordinate with the State Board of Elections on the statewide primary that includes races for governor and other statewide offices.
The canvassing process helps ensure that only valid ballots are counted while maintaining chain-of-custody standards. Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings at scheduled times. Additional canvassing sessions may occur after June 1 but cannot take place on Election Day itself.
Voters who have questions about their ballot status, replacement ballots or how to return a voted ballot can visit vote.md.gov/vote2026 or download the free Go Vote Maryland! app. The site also lists ballot drop box locations and early voting center hours for the June 11-18 period.
Mail-in voting remains an option for the primary, and the start of canvassing marks a key step in finalizing results for the June 23 election. Local boards continue to process ballots received after the initial canvassing date, with all eligible ballots postmarked by Election Day included in the official count released after polls close.
