Library Creates Space for Informed Voters Ahead of Election Season

  • By Baltimore County Public Library

Imagine getting a backstage pass to shaping our country’s playlist. That’s exactly what Americans get the chance to do during elections. In order to take part, you must first register to vote. Voting is a right by which you exercise your freedom and have a voice in our democratic process in the United States. By participating, citizens can help shape decisions and policies, such as preserving intellectual freedom championed by public libraries, that affect their communities and our country.  

Who Can Register 

Any American citizen who is 18 or older can register to vote. However, it is also important for people to update their registration for a number of reasons, including moving to a new address, changing your name or changing political parties.  

Picture of the voter registration form laying next to a keyboard.

Register to Vote  

Our library is an “instrument of democracy;” we provide our communities with a safe, nonpartisan space to get assistance with voting registration. You can register to vote online or print an application to register to vote at any of our branches. Volunteers trained by the Baltimore County Board of Elections will be available to help customers register, find a polling place, and answer questions about registration, voting and being an election judge. Seventeen branches will host an information table (PDF) at least once, now through Friday, October 9. 

For additional information, visit Baltimore County Board of Elections or League of Women Voters of Maryland.

2026 Elections 

Here’s a look at some of the races you will see on the general election ballot in Baltimore County: 

  • Governor/Lieutenant Governor 
  • Comptroller 
  • Attorney General 
  • House of Representatives 
  • Maryland State Senator 
  • Maryland State House of Delegates 
  • County Executive 
  • County Council 
  • Judge of the Circuit Court 
  • Justice, Supreme Court of Maryland 
  • Judge, Appellate Court of Maryland at Large 
  • Judge, Appellate Court of Maryland 

Make Your Vote Count

As a pillar of trust in the community, we are offering a series of programs to help prepare you with information and resources you need for the general election.  

The Conflict Resolution Center of Baltimore County (CRCBC) is holding in-person Listening With Care programs at our Hereford and Catonsville branches on Tuesdays, September 15 and 22, respectively, and one virtual event on Tuesday, September 29. We spoke with CRCBC’s Anthony Thomas on a few things you can do when you notice a political conversation is starting to break down.  

  • Check in with yourself before engaging. If you are already feeling angry, defensive or emotionally charged, it can be harder to listen clearly and easier to react. Not every conversation needs to happen in the moment. Sometimes it is better to pause and return to it when you are in a better place to have the conversation. 
  • Slow the conversation down and get curious about what the other person is saying. Asking a thoughtful question can help you understand what they mean instead of filling in the gaps with your own assumptions. 
  • Listening does not mean agreeing. You can understand someone’s point of view without accepting it as your own. That can make it easier to stay in the conversation without feeling like you have to prove your point or change someone’s mind. 

Thomas will introduce practical ways to listen more intentionally, recognize where misunderstandings can happen and navigate conversations when there is disagreement. Participants will also have an opportunity to think about how these skills can be used in their own conversations. Other virtual programs include: 

Other Dates to Remember 

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