When is the deadline to register for the Maryland primary?

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MARYLAND - The 2026 midterm elections will decide control of the next U.S. Congress and key state leadership, including Maryland’s statewide offices.

Before the general election, each state will hold primaries to determine which candidates appear on the November ballot.

By the numbers:

In Maryland, the June primary will narrow the field of candidates who will compete in the November general election for several important posts, per Ballotpedia. 

• U.S. House of Representatives — All congressional districts will hold primaries to choose nominees.
• Governor and Lieutenant Governor — Candidates run on a joint ticket. Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller are seeking reelection.
• State executive offices — Voters will choose party nominees for statewide offices, including attorney general and comptroller.
• State Senate — All 47 seats are up for election, with primaries determining party nominees in each district.
• House of Delegates — All 141 seats will be on the ballot, with candidates competing in primaries across legislative districts.
• State Supreme Court — One Maryland Supreme Court justice is up for retention: Justice Peter K. Killough.
• State Appellate Court — One Maryland intermediate court judge is up for retention: Judge Dan Friedman.
• Local offices — Municipal and school district elections, including school board races, will also take place in various jurisdictions across the state.

Dig deeper:

The 2026 midterms are expected to be highly competitive and potentially pivotal in determining which party controls the two chambers of Congress. As of April 2026, the Republican Party controls both chambers of Congress. 

On Nov. 3, voters will cast ballots for all 435 U.S. House seats, 35 U.S. Senate seats and numerous state and local positions, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. 

Voters will decide 33 regularly scheduled Senate seats, plus two special elections to fill the seats vacated by J.D. Vance of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida, who left Congress to serve as vice president and secretary of state, respectively.

Voter registration and deadlines

What you can do:

Voters in Maryland who want to take part in the state’s 2026 primary must register by Tuesday, June 2, though same-day registration is available through Election Day at early voting sites and polling places, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 23. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is June 16 by mail or fax, or June 19 online, though in-person requests can be made up to Election Day.