Which requirement is necessary for a voter in Maryland?

In Maryland, one of the essential requirements for voter registration is that individuals must register at least 21 days before an election. This rule ensures that election officials have sufficient time to process registrations and prepare for the election. While Maryland does offer same-day registration during early voting and on election day, the standard procedure requires prior registration to participate in the voting process.

Being a resident of Maryland is also a requirement, as residency establishes eligibility to vote in the state's elections. However, simply being a resident is not the same as the formal process of registration. The age requirement states that voters must be at least 16 years old to register, but they must be 18 by election day to vote, which is why stating 21 years old as the cutoff for eligibility is not accurate. Voter identification laws do exist, but having a driver's license is not a mandatory requirement for all voters in Maryland, further indicating that prior registration is a critical step in the voting process.