When Does Early Voting Begin In Maryland's Presidential Primary 2016?

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland voters can cast ballots in roughly two weeks, ahead of the primary election date for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations.

Maryland’s primary election will be held April 26; polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day.

Early voting in Maryland begins Thursday, April 14, and runs through Thursday, April 21. Polling places are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. those days.

With Texas Sen. Ted Cruz scrambling to edge out New York businessman Donald Trump in a nasty contest that has sunk to the depths of name-calling and slurs against their opponent's wives, the GOP contest is a free-for-all. Recent polls have Cruz widening his lead over Trump in Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday's primary there.

In yet another sign that the Democratic presidential contest in Maryland will be a close-fought primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders opened a Baltimore field office on Wednesday.

This is the campaign's second office in the state. Former NAACP President Ben Jealous is the steering committee chairman for the Sanders camp.

Former Secretary of StateHillary Clinton has a 30-point lead over the Vermont senator in the latest Maryland polls.

Maryland holds its presidential primary -- along with primary contests for U.S. Senate, Congressional seats and statehouse races -- on April 26.

Crucial contests for Clinton are April 19 in New York, as well as primaries in Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island on April 26, says The Baltimore Sun.

Where to Vote, Ballot Preview

You can vote in an early voting center in the Maryland county where you live. See a list of the 2016 Primary early voting sites (PDF).

The ballots vary by county and can be viewed ahead of time on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.

Besides voting for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, Maryland residents will select Congressional nominees, U.S. Senate candidates for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Congressional candidates, and delegates to the national political conventions, among other races.

To vote in Maryland, you must register to vote. Your local board of elections can answer questions on how and where to do that. Online Voter Registration also is available.

»Photos by Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons