Talbot Votes Tuesday After Leading Maryland in Early Turnout: 6,920 Ballots, 23.95% of Active Voters

EASTON, MARYLAND — Talbot County voters head to the polls Tuesday after turning out for early voting at a higher rate than any other Maryland jurisdiction.

Over the eight days of early voting, Oct. 22–29, 6,920 Talbot voters cast ballots, 23.95% of the county's 28,892 eligible active voters, according to the State Board of Elections' unofficial early-voting report. That was the highest rate in the state. Queen Anne's County was second at 19.29%, and the statewide figure was 14.08%. The last day, Oct. 29, was Talbot's second-busiest, with 1,245 voters. The state's totals do not include provisional or mail-in voters.

Mail-in ballots add to that count. As of 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, the state reported 4,556 mail-in ballots sent to Talbot voters and 3,340 returned. Of those, 1,913 had been accepted, and 1,427 were left to count.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can find their polling place at elections.maryland.gov or by texting FIND to 77788, according to the Talbot County Board of Elections. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the local board by 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, according to the state board's election calendar. Ballots returned by drop box or hand delivery must arrive by 8 p.m. Election Day.

The county board will canvass early-voting results at 2 p.m. Tuesday at its office, 215 Bay St., Suite 7, in Easton, but no results will be available until after 8 p.m. Counting continues after election night. The next mail-in ballot canvass is at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. Provisional ballots will be canvassed Nov. 12, and the board is scheduled to certify the election Friday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m.

Talbot County government offices will be closed Tuesday for Election Day. The board of elections can be reached at 410-770-8099.