Courtney Watson
House of Delegates
District 9B

Hello Friends,

If you requested a mail-in ballot for the mid-term General Election, you can expect it soon (Howard County ballots were mailed on October 3)! If you want to vote by mail but haven't yet requested a ballot, you have until November 1 to do so.

Below you will find helpful links for early voting and drop box locations, mail-in ballot information, and more.

If you plan to vote on General Election Day, the polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on November 8. You can confirm your election day voting location using the link provided.

As always, feel free to contact my office with any questions, concerns, or comments (see contact information at the end of this newsletter).

Don't forget - your vote is your voice!

Take care,
  • Register to Vote Register to Vote (deadline is October 18, 2022 for the Gubernatorial General Election)


  • Vote by Mail (Mail-in Ballot) NOTE: Voters who signed up for their mail ballot online will be sent an email with a link so they can track the progress of their ballot.


  • Vote Early (October 27, 2022 - November 3, 2022)
Howard County Early Voting Locations

The Bain Senior Center
5470 Ruth Keeton Way
Columbia, MD 21044

Gary J Arthur Center
2400 Route 97
Cooksville, MD 21723

Meadowbrook Athletic Complex
5001 Meadowbrook Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21043

North Laurel Community Center
9411 Whiskey Bottom Road
Laurel, MD 20723

Saint John Baptist Church – Fellowship Hall
9055 Tamar Drive
Columbia, MD 21045





If you requested a mail-in ballot but choose not to use it, you can cast a provisional ballot at your election voting location.
FROM MARYLAND SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON

Early Counting of Mail-In Ballots in Court
 
Although the legislature passed legislation last Session that would have allowed for the early tabulation of mail-in ballots, Governor Hogan vetoed that bill and the State Board of Elections was forced to seek recourse through the court system. After delays in certifying the Primary Election due to inability to process mail-in ballots until after Election Day, Judge James Bonifant of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County granted relief through an order allowing local boards of elections to begin confidentially counting ballots as early as October 1.
 
Last week, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals denied a request from Delegate Dan Cox to stay Judge Bonifant’s order. The case is now pending before the Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest State court, which will hear the case on Friday. 
 
As a State, we continue to take steps to increase access to the ballot box so all our citizens’ voices can be heard. Thanks to legislation we passed in 2021, the Maryland State Board of Elections expects over 1 million Marylanders to vote by mail or by dropping their ballot at a drop-off box. Without the early canvassing of those ballots thanks to Judge Bonifant’s order, the delay could result in final results taking weeks to be determined, potentially creating turmoil across the State. The Maryland General Assembly will once again take up legislation to resolve this issue for future elections in the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
HOW TO CONTACT MY OFFICE
Your thoughts are always welcome. Please contact me by email (see below). When requesting help for constituent matters, please include "constituent" in the subject line.

Delegate Courtney Watson
Howard County District 9B
Member, Economic Matters Committee
Member, Property and Casualty Insurance Subcommittee
Chair, Workers' Compensation Subcommittee
Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus

Maryland House of Delegates
6 Bladen Street, Room 350
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-3077 / 301-858-3077