Some Maryland voters who requested mail-in ballots for the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election may receive replacement ballots after a printing error caused certain voters to be mailed the incorrect party ballot.
According to election officials, the issue only affects voters who were mailed ballots before May 14, 2026. The Maryland State Board of Elections says all impacted voters will automatically receive a corrected replacement ballot in the mail.
Voters who may be affected include those who requested a mail-in ballot for the gubernatorial primary on or before May 13, as well as voters enrolled as permanent absentee voters who automatically receive ballots for every election.
Officials say voters can identify whether they received a replacement ballot by checking the envelope. Corrected ballots will arrive in envelopes clearly marked “REPLACEMENT BALLOT” and will include a letter titled “Attention Voter!” The original ballots that were mailed in error did not include either marking. Election officials say replacement ballots began mailing the week of May 18 and should be completed and returned by May 29.
Voters who receive a replacement ballot are instructed to destroy the original ballot and only complete and return the corrected ballot and replacement return envelope. Officials emphasized that voters should not submit both ballots.
The State Board of Elections also noted that voters who requested their ballots through web delivery, also known as “Print at Home” ballots, were not affected by the printing issue.
Additionally, voters who requested a mail-in ballot after May 14 may experience slight delays, as election officials prioritize sending replacement ballots to impacted voters first.
Affected voters are expected to receive postcards from the State Board of Elections, and voters with email addresses on file should also receive email notifications. Additional information can be found here.
