Faulkner, Maryland Public Records

Registration is available online through the Maryland State Board of Elections website at https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html, which offers online registration for citizens with a valid Maryland driver's license or Motor Vehicle Administration ID card. Voter registration deadlines in Maryland are 21 days before any election. New registrants must provide proof of Maryland residency and must be U.S. Citizens at least 18 years old by the date of the next election. Same-day registration is available during early voting and on Election Day at designated locations. As an unincorporated community, Faulkner has no municipal elections for mayor or city council, since it has no incorporated local government. Residents therefore vote in Charles County, Maryland state, and federal elections but not in municipal races. Voters participate in elections for Charles County Commissioners (Charles County's governing body), Board of Education members, county constitutional officers (Sheriff, State's Attorney, Clerk of the Circuit Court), Maryland state legislature (District 28 for Senate and House of Delegates), statewide offices including Governor and Lieutenant Governor, U.S. House of Representatives (Maryland's 5th Congressional District), and U.S. Senate. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the Maryland Voter Lookup tool at https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch, which requires entering name and date of birth or residential address. Maryland makes various election records publicly accessible under state election law. Voter registration lists are available for purchase by candidates, political committees, and the public through the State Board of Elections, though individual voter records containing personal information are protected. Campaign finance reports are publicly searchable through the Maryland State Board of Elections Campaign Finance database at https://campaignfinance.maryland.gov/, which displays contributions and expenditures for state and local candidates. Candidate filings, nomination petitions, and financial disclosure forms are public records available through the Board of Elections. Precinct-level election results are published on the Charles County Board of Elections website and the state Board of Elections site after each election, showing vote totals by precinct, candidate, and ballot question. In the November 2024 presidential election, Charles County recorded voter turnout of approximately 67% of registered voters, with roughly 110,000 residents registered and approximately 73,000 ballots cast. County voters supported Democratic candidates by comfortable margins, consistent with voting patterns in recent election cycles. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, residents will decide several significant races. Maryland will hold elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor (four-year terms), as the state's gubernatorial elections occur in midterm years. The Maryland General Assembly will have elections for all 47 State Senate seats and all 141 House of Delegates seats, including District 28 which represents the area. Charles County voters will also elect County Commissioners, Board of Education members, and potentially constitutional officers depending on term schedules. While Maryland's U.S. Senate seats are not scheduled for election in 2026 (Senator Chris Van Hollen's seat is up in 2028 and the other seat in 2024), Maryland's U.S. House seats including the 5th District will be on the ballot. Local ballot questions regarding county charter amendments, bond issues, or tax matters may also appear depending on what the County Commissioners place before voters. Maryland offers absentee and mail-in voting options. Any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason, making Maryland a no-excuse absentee voting state. Voters can request mail-in ballots online through the Maryland Voter Services portal at https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration, by mail, or in person at the Charles County Board of Elections office. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is typically seven days before Election Day, though earlier requests are encouraged. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by 10:00 AM on the Friday after Election Day to be counted. The state also offers early voting at designated centers throughout Charles County for eight days including weekends before Election Day, providing residents convenient options beyond traditional Election Day polling place voting.