Voter registration deadline for Maryland’s June 2 primary election nears

Election workers Jessica Fleming, left, and Amanda White count ballots while collecting them from a drop box outside a voting center during the 7th Congressional District special election, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Windsor Mill, Md. The election to fill a seat left open by the death last October of Congressman Elijah Cummings has been dramatically reshaped by the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)(AP/Julio Cortez)

Maryland is reminding residents who plan to vote in the state’s 2020 primary election to have their applications for voter registration submitted no later than May 27.

Eligible voters can submit a voter registration application to their local or state board of elections using Maryland’s online voter registration system, no later than 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 for the June 2 primary.

Maryland 2020 primary voting guide: Everything you need to know

Applications sent by must be postmarked by the May 27 deadline.

The June 2 primary election will be conducted primarily through the mail — a first for the state — due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Registering to vote in advance of the election makes the voting process itself faster and safer,” said Linda Lamone, the administrator of the state board of elections, in a statement.

“Those who are registered early may submit their ballots by mail and avoid bringing their completed ballots to a designated ballot drop-off location or voting in-person on election day.”

First planned for April 28, Gov. Larry Hogan pushed back the date of the primary to give officials more time to come up with a plan for carrying out the primary with enhanced safety measures.