The Maryland State Board of Elections completed the installation this week of 286 ballot drop boxes across the state. Voters can use any drop box to cast their mail-in ballots, which may arrive in homes as early as next week.

The drop box is located in the alley alongside the Finance Department's customer center, 100 N. Appleton St. The alley, though, is blocked with construction equipment — and will remain so through December — so voters cannot drive up to the drop box to deliver their ballot as they could in the past.

Slow and erratic mail delivery may make ballot drop boxes more appealing for voters, but some Republicans want to ban or restrict them.

After filling out your ballot, insert it in the provided envelope and mail it to your county elections office. Mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 5 — and received by the elections office no later than seven days after Election Day, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.

Hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots have been sent to Maryland voters, with more on the way, as the country rapidly approaches one of the most highly-anticipated presidential elections in American history.

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Clerks can also open up drop boxes, although one sheriff is warning them not to. However, there are steps to keep your ballot safe. Every City of Milwaukee library branch has an absentee ballot drop box right in front.