On September 4, Judge Richard D. Bennett of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland issued a historic ruling requiring the Maryland Board of Elections to make its online ballot-marking tool available to voters with disabilities in the November election. The ruling in National Federation of the Blind et al. vs. Linda H. Lamone et al. means that Maryland voters with disabilities will be able to mark absentee ballots online for print out and mailing to the Board of Elections. 

However, before you can use the online ballot marking tool, you must first request that the ballot be delivered to you by email.

Following are steps to request email delivery of your absentee ballot:

1. Use the accessible online voter registration and absentee ballot request form at https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1. You must have a Maryland ID or driver's license issued by MVA to use this form. In Step 9 of this form, be sure to indicate that you want an absentee ballot for the 2014 Gubernatorial General Election and that you want delivery through email.
2. OR, complete the absentee ballot application for 2014 elections at http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/documents/2014_Absentee_Ballot_Application_English.pdf. This form is an inaccessible PDF. A Spanish version of this form may be found at http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/documents/2014_Absentee_Ballot_Application_Spanish.pdf. It is also an inaccessible PDF. Be sure to indicate that you want your absentee ballot delivered by email.
3. OR, go to your local board of elections and complete and turn in your absentee ballot application there. Be sure to indicate that you want your absentee ballot delivered by email.
4. Your absentee ballot request form must be submitted by October 31, 2014, if you want to have your ballot delivered by email and use the online ballot marking tool.

All registered voters in Maryland are eligible to vote by absentee ballot. The online ballot marking tool allows voters with disabilities to mark their ballot privately and independently using their own access technology. The computer that is used to mark the ballot must be connected to a printer. Once the ballot is marked it must be printed out and mailed to your local board of elections. Feel free to contact me at (410) 659-9314, extension 2221, or [email protected] if you have any questions.