A record number of Marylanders are expected to vote today. Here are answers to some common questions and tips on how to zip in and out of the polls.
Am I registered to vote? And if so, where am I registered?
To find out, go to the Maryland State Board of Elections Web site: www.elections.state.md.us. Click on the "FIND OUT HERE" link at the top of the page. Then, click on "Name Search" and fill in your name, date of birth and ZIP code. If you're registered, your name, address and precinct information will appear.
If you no longer live at the address where you are registered, see Question 10.
What if I'm not registered? Can I still vote?
No. Maryland's voter registration deadline passed last month.
When are the polls open?
From 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. today. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be able to vote.
How can I avoid long lines?
Vote between noon and 3 p.m. Precinct traffic mirrors highway traffic. Congestion peaks during morning and evening rush hours, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
How can I avoid creating long lines?
Mark up the sample ballot you received in the mail and take it into the voting booth.
In addition to the candidates for president, Congress and other offices, Baltimore's ballot includes a charter amendment and 15 bond questions. The average unprepared voter will take 8 minutes to get through them, said John T. Willis, a professor at the University of Baltimore and former secretary of state.
"Studies have shown that anyone who spends more than four or five minutes on a machine is going to create backups," he said.
If you tossed your sample ballot in the garbage, you can print one from the Internet. Follow the instructions from Question 1. When your voter registration information appears, click on the "sample ballot" link.
I hear that many people around the nation are voting early. Can I do that in Maryland?
No. An early-voting statute passed by the General Assembly was ruled unconstitutional. Today, you'll get a chance to decide whether the state should allow early voting in the future.
What if I can't make it to the polls today? Can I vote absentee?
Yes, but you have to go to your local Board of Elections in person to pick up an absentee ballot.
What machines are we voting on this time?
The same ones as last time - the machines that work like ATMs. If you haven't voted recently, here is a link to a video demonstrating how the touch-screen machines work: www.mdvotes.org/demo.php
