BALTIMORE — Big changes have come to Maryland elections since the coronavirus pandemic struck in 2020. More than 1 in 4 voters participated using mail-in ballots in the most recent election, casting them via ballot drop boxes or sending them back via the mail.
With that cultural shift has come the need for more adjustments to the mail-in ballot process. This fall, state election leaders got a court order allowing them to begin counting those ballots early to handle the massive influx that came with more widespread usage.
In the next election, voters will find more changes have been made to further expand their options. Ballot curing, the process by which voters who forget to sign the oath on their mail-in ballot can rectify the situation and ensure their vote is counted, is expected to be offered via text message for the 2024 election.
