Montgomery County Still Has 58,546 Mail Ballots Out on Election Eve — and Its Count Does Not Resume Until Thursday
The county sent 141,514 mail-in ballots and had 82,968 back by October 31, with about 34,000 of those still waiting to be counted — which is why close Montgomery races may not be settled on Tuesday night.
Montgomery County goes into Election Day with a large share of its vote still in envelopes. As of October 31, the county had sent 141,514 mail-in ballots and received 82,968 back, according to State Board of Elections data reported by Moderately MOCO — leaving 58,546 not yet returned. Another 93,190 people voted early in person.
A returned ballot is not a counted one, and the county's calendar is the reason close races may stay open past Tuesday night. Mail-in ballots counted before Election Day are held until all polls close, and as of October 31 about 34,000 of the ballots the county had received were still waiting to be counted, with more arriving through November 13. Montgomery's elections board does not count on Election Day: its canvass resumes Thursday, November 5, and continues November 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with each session livestreamed. Provisional ballots are counted starting November 12.
For voters still holding a ballot, the deadlines are Tuesday-shaped: it can go into one of the county's 58 official drop boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday, be handed in at the county elections office by then, or be mailed postmarked by November 3 and received by 10 a.m. on Friday, November 13 — with the oath on the envelope signed. In-person voters on Tuesday must use their assigned polling place, which may not be where they voted early; polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., anyone in line by 8 p.m. can vote, and a resident who is not registered or has moved can register or update an address at the polling place with a document showing name and address.
The ballot itself carries federal, state and county offices plus three statewide questions — proposed constitutional amendments — and no county ballot questions this year. Takoma Park and Poolesville also hold town elections on Tuesday at separate polling places, so residents voting in both elections vote in two places. Montgomery County Public Schools had no classes Monday and schools and offices are closed Tuesday for Election Day.
