VOTER REGISTRATION WHO AND HOW: You may register to vote if you are (1) a United States citizen, (2) at least 17 years old and will be 18 by the date of the next General Election and (3) a resident of Montgomery County on the day of registration. Registration is permanent if you keep your address current with the Montgomery County Board of Elections and remain a resident of Montgomery County. Application for voter registration may be made by MAIL or IN PERSON.

Once the application has been approved by the elections office, you will receive a Voter Notification card that identifies your legislative and congressional districts, precinct number and polling place, and your party affiliation.

WHERE AND WHEN: Applications may be filled out any weekday between 8:30 AM and 5 PM at the Montgomery County Board of Elections, 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD. You may register to vote at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles when you apply for a drivers license. During the months preceding registration deadlines, applications are available at supplemental registration sites. Application forms may also be picked up at any Montgomery County library, Motor Vehicle Office, and many governmental offices; or requested by phone 240-777-8683 and returned to the Board of Elections by mail. Registration books are closed for 4 weeks before each election.

DECLARATION OF PARTY AFFILIATION: A citizen may affiliate with a political party or decline to designate a party affiliation. Only those voters affiliated with a political party that nominates candidates by the primary method may vote in that party's primary election. All voters, including those who decline to affiliate with a party, may vote in the non-partisan primary for Board of Education. All voters, affiliated or unaffiliated, may vote in the general election.

REGISTRATION CHANGES: Send your request for changes to the Board of Elections before the rolls close prior to the next election. Include your old address and new address; former name and new name. Be sure to sign the request. Requests for changing party affiliation must be made at least 12 weeks before a primary election.

To find your polling place, precint number, and Congressional, Legislative, Council and School Districts, use the Polling Place Locator. (Also available in Spanish.)

ABSENTEE BALLOT: Registered voters may obtain absentee ballots at the Board of Elections Office, apply for them by mail or request by phone 240-777-8550, by fax 240-777-8560, or by E-Mail- absentee@co.mo.md.us. An absentee ballot may also be obtained by download

Applications should be submitted 4-6 weeks before the election, if possible, and must be received in the elections office not later than 7 days before an election.

LATE ABSENTEE BALLOTS are available within seven days of the election, or on Election Day. The process must be carried out in Persona at the Board of Elections by you or a designated agent. All absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked before election day; late absentee ballots must be brought to the Board of Elections Office by 8 PM on election day.

When there are a number of questions to be voted on at a general election, League members will accept invitations to speak before community organizations, presenting the pros and cons of each item. This service is free, but donations are always welcome. We are always ready to help with voter registration, but are even more willing to help you and your organization learn how to do it yourselves.

The League usually sponsors televised debates and other forums prior to elections. Watch these pages for details.

Maryland Government: How It Works, How to Work It, a guide to understanding the structure and procedures of Maryland's government and how to influenc the process is published by the League of Women Voters of Maryland.

WHEN YOU GO TO ANNAPOLIS is published by the LWVMD and lists all members of the General Assembly, their districts, committee assignments, offices and phone numbers. Also available free upon receipt of a SASE.

KNOW YOUR COUNTY is a 60-page book describing the structure and function of your county government and how to contact each department. It is currently being revised. Watch this space for date of republication.

LWV CALENDAR -- available each October for $6.00 from any LWV member and at selected outlets. Carries school and government holidays, useful emergency and county numbers, list of all libraries and a condensed version of The Elected. You can't live without one.