MD HB496

Unaffiliated voters may vote in primary elections using either an unaffiliated ballot (if available in their county) or the ballot of any political party of their choice

Voting a political party's ballot in a primary does not automatically change an unaffiliated voter's registration to that party

Political parties may choose to permit voters affiliated with a different party to vote in their primary by notifying the State Board at least 6 months before the primary election date

Unaffiliated voters requesting absentee ballots for primaries must specify their choice of unaffiliated ballot or which party ballot they wish to vote

Effective date: October 1, 2026