White Plains, Maryland Public Records

Maryland residents can complete voter registration online through the Maryland State Board of Elections website at elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/index.html. The online system is accessible to anyone holding a Maryland driver's license or MVA-issued ID card. Eligibility requires U.S. Citizenship, being at least 18 years old by the next general election, and Maryland residency. Registration must be completed 21 days before any election. The state also permits same-day registration during early voting and on Election Day at designated locations. Applicants need their Maryland driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with date of birth and residential address. As an unincorporated community, White Plains holds no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, residents participate in Charles County and Maryland state elections, plus federal contests. County races include County Commissioners, Sheriff, State's Attorney, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Register of Wills, Orphans' Court judges, and Board of Education members. These elections typically occur during gubernatorial years (2022, 2026, 2030) and presidential years (2024, 2028). Local voters can identify their assigned polling place using the Maryland State Board of Elections Polling Place Lookup tool at elections.maryland.gov/voting/where.html. Entering a residential address reveals the polling location, sample ballot, and elected representatives. Charles County operates multiple polling places across different precincts, with sites at schools, community centers, and public buildings. Early voting is available at designated centers throughout Charles County beginning the second Thursday before Election Day through the Thursday immediately before Election Day, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Early voting locations appear on the State Board of Elections website. Maryland makes several election related records available to the public. Voter registration lists can be purchased for political purposes through the State Board of Elections. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees are searchable online through the Maryland State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Database at campaignfinance.maryland.gov. Candidate filing information, including names, addresses, and committees, is publicly accessible. Election results by precinct are published on the State Board of Elections website after each election, displaying vote totals for all candidates and ballot questions. The November 2024 presidential election saw Charles County report approximately 69% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 105,000 ballots cast out of approximately 152,000 registered voters. The county has trended Democratic in recent federal elections while remaining competitive in some local races. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters here will decide several significant races. Maryland will not have a U.S. Senate race in 2026, as both Senate seats are on different cycles. However, all eight Maryland U.S. House seats will be on the ballot, including Maryland's 5th Congressional District which includes White Plains. The 2026 election will not include a gubernatorial race, as Maryland governors serve four-year terms and Governor Wes Moore was elected in 2022. State-level races will include all 47 seats in the Maryland Senate and all 141 seats in the Maryland House of Delegates; local voters participate in District 29 elections for these positions. County-level races expected in 2026 include Charles County Commissioners, Charles County Sheriff, State's Attorney, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Register of Wills, and Orphans' Court judges, as these positions are generally elected in gubernatorial cycle years. Maryland voters can request absentee ballots (called mail-in ballots in Maryland) through the State Board of Elections website at elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html or by contacting the Charles County Board of Elections. Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, by fax, or by email. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is the Tuesday before Election Day. Voters can track the status of their mail-in ballot through the Maryland Ballot Tracking system. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by 10:00 AM on the Friday after Election Day to be counted, or can be deposited in official ballot drop boxes by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Charles County provides secure ballot drop boxes at the Board of Elections office and other designated locations during the election period.