Confused about Maryland mail ballot and voting rules? Here’s what you need to know.

For months, Maryland State Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis watched as the Trump administration attempted to change voting rules with Election Day creeping closer.

Then the Supreme Court stepped in earlier this month and shut down Trump’s proposed changes. But DeMarinis still worried that the efforts would stoke confusion for voters who were used to one process but hearing another from Trump.

It’s left election officials like DeMarinis dealing with the aftermath — and lots of questions.

“Everyone needs to take a deep breath and analyze and get the facts,” he said.

As Maryland voters begin casting their ballots this week, DeMarinis is working toward a smooth process.

Here’s a rundown on what to expect from voting, by mail or otherwise, and key dates this year. Still have questions? See something that isn’t accurate? State and local election officials want to hear from you.

So, what’s new with mail ballots?

Nada.

Despite months of back and forth and almost daily headlines about mail ballot rule changes, legal challenges and court decisions, there’s nothing new under the sun.

“Everything is the same here in Maryland,” said Joanne Antoine, the executive director of Common Cause Maryland, a nonpartisan good-governance and elections watchdog.

The Supreme Court this month struck down President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict mail ballot voting, saying it was too close to the election to change anything.

Trump’s March executive order — now null and void — gave the U.S. Postal Service sweeping authority over election mail and put pressure on states to comply with new ballot and voter roll requirements.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement that the Supreme Court “got it right” and that the Postal Service has “no business deciding who gets a ballot and who doesn’t.”

When will I get my mail ballot?

Maryland started sending them out on Sept. 19 to members of the military and residents living overseas. In-state voters’ ballots went out on Sept. 21. The Maryland State Board of Elections said in a news release that it typically takes about five days to receive a ballot.

Fun fact: Nearly 600,000 Maryland voters have requested mail ballots ahead of November’s election.

Can I still request a mail ballot?

Yes. There are several ways to do this: online, by mail or fax, and in person.

You have until Oct. 27 to request that a ballot be sent to you through the U.S. mail or by fax. The elections board must receive your request by that date.

The deadline to request a print-at-home ballot emailed to you is Oct. 30. You can use this online form or fill out this application and mail or fax it in.

You can also go to your local board of elections and pick one up in person.

How should I return my mail ballot?

You can mail it, place it in a drop box or deliver it in person to your local board of elections. It has to be dropped off in person, placed in a drop box or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

But election officials and advocates urged voters to return ballots as early as possible to avoid missing a deadline.

How do I make sure my mail ballot is postmarked by the deadline?

DeMarinis recommended mailing your ballot as early as possible to ensure that it’s stamped ahead of the deadline.

At the end of last year, the U.S. Postal Service clarified a longstanding policy on postmarks, saying election mail is more often stamped at processing centers than at local post offices. There could be a delay between when you bring it to your local post office and when it gets stamped.

“Sticking it in a mailbox on or right before Election Day, you might not get the postmark on Election Day,” he said.

He urged voters to use one of the nearly 300 drop boxes placed around the state, especially if you’re dropping the ballot in the mail during the week before Election Day.

“They’re safe. They’re secure. Use them,” he said.

How do I make sure my ballot was counted?

The state elections board has a handy online tool. You can check whether it has been received and confirm that it’s been counted.

Any questions or concerns? Call your local elections board.

What if I no longer want to vote by mail?

You can cancel your mail ballot by contacting your local board of elections or do so online.

If you decide to cancel and your mail ballot is already en route to your house, you may have to vote with a provisional ballot when you show up to vote in person.

How else can I vote?

Besides voting by mail, Marylanders can also cast a ballot at early in-person voting centers from Oct. 22-29 and in person on Election Day at their assigned polling places on Nov. 3.

Pro tip from Common Cause’s Antoine: The weekend of early voting is typically slow.

“So if you’re going to church on Sunday, go after church.”

How do I register to vote?

There are a few ways to register: online, by mail, or in person at the local or state elections board.

You can register to vote at age 16 in Maryland but can’t actually cast a ballot until you’ve turned 18.

Not sure if you’re registered? Look yourself up.

What happened after Maryland’s mail ballot error during the primary?

DeMarinis said the state is taking a “much more active” role in overseeing the mailing of general election ballots after a vendor error caused some voters to receive a June primary ballot for the wrong party.

The mix-up drew scrutiny from Trump and put Maryland’s elections under a national spotlight.

Taylor Print & Visual Impressions immediately took responsibility for its mistake and reissued hundreds of thousands of mail ballots.

This go-round, DeMarinis sent his mail ballot director to Taylor’s processing plant to oversee the process. Taylor has added quality controls on its end, he said.

DeMarinis said that while he understands errors happen, everyone involved has an interest in rebuilding trust in the process.

“The vendor knows their reputation is on the line.”