Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore walked into the Pip Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis on Friday to cast their ballots, joining a wave of early voters that has already outpaced turnout from four years ago. The governor is on the ballot himself this fall, seeking reelection against Republican Dan Cox and two third-party candidates as Maryland holds its 2026 midterm elections.
The Moores were not alone at the polls. According to WBFF, they were joined by Anne Arundel County executive candidate Allison Pickard, state Sen. Shaneka Henson, several Maryland delegates and Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann. The outlet reported that early voting in Maryland began Thursday, October 22, and runs through Thursday, October 29, with polls open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Election officials said the turnout at that very polling site stood out. Per CBS News, officials at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center reported higher-than-usual turnout on the first day of early voting, a sign of the energy state election officials were tracking across Maryland this week.
Turnout Numbers Tell a Bigger Story
Statewide, more than 77,000 Marylanders cast ballots on the first day of early voting, according to state election data cited by the station's report. That early surge builds on numbers tracked throughout the day: more than 40,000 voters had cast ballots by 1 p.m., according to Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis, as reported by The Banner.
By 4:30 p.m., about 63,000 people had voted, according to unofficial numbers reported by WBAL-TV, which also noted steady turnout at Baltimore County centers, with busier stretches at the Honeygo Run Community Center in Perry Hall during the morning and around lunchtime. The scale of this year's turnout is notable against recent history: nearly 45,000 voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting four years earlier, according to Maryland Matters.
Enthusiasm wasn't confined to Annapolis. The Banner reported that a group of about 30 voters walked together to a polling site in downtown Rockville as part of a rally to boost turnout. Voters interviewed by that outlet across the state cited affordability, immigration and funding for important programs as top concerns heading into this election.
What's Actually on the Ballot
Beyond the governor's race, Maryland voters will decide all eight of the state's congressional seats and several statewide ballot questions, WBFF reported. Maryland Matters reported that voters will also choose the attorney general, state comptroller and all 188 members of the General Assembly, with Election Day set for Tuesday, November 3.
One ballot measure drawing particular attention is Question 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the rules governing how Maryland draws its congressional districts, according to Maryland Matters. The changes would not take effect until the 2027 legislative session and would not affect congressional races until 2028 at the earliest, the outlet reported. Seven of Maryland's eight congressional districts are currently held by Democrats, with the state's sole Republican seat held by Rep. Andy Harris, per the same outlet.
Maryland currently operates 94 early voting centers statewide, according to Maryland Matters, giving voters a broad window to cast ballots ahead of next month's deadline. The Maryland State Board of Elections confirms that early voting runs through October 29 with centers open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the board's separate posting on 2026 ballot questions notes that the text of this year's measures was made available for public comment under state election law.
