There's an easier way to register to vote in Maryland. The State Board of Elections has unveiled on line registration. First time voters can sign up using a computer, along with citizens who are currently signed up and want to make changes or update their registrations.

"In most states around the country, elections offices are looking for ways to make it easier for people to get registered in order to be  able to vote," says Ross Goldstein, Deputy Administrator with the State Board of Elections. He says it was mandated by the General Assembly a few years ago, and it makes it easier for citizens to sign up, especially if they can't always get to their local elections offices.

To register on line, or make changes or update your registration, go to www.elections.state.md.us.

In order to prevent fraud, Goldstein says anyone who registers must enter their driver's license number, or the number from their state identification card. Those numbers will be checked instantly with the Motor Vehicle Administration's records. "And that gets verified right away to make sure that number is consistent with the other information on file at the Motor Vehicle Administration," he says.

On line registration also helps elections office employees who no longer have to try and decipher citizens' bad handwriting. "The accuracy level will go up {because} when we put them in our system, we don't have to guess at the handwriting. We'll see it typed out," says Goldstein.

But for those who still like registering the old fashioned way, Goldstein says citizens can visit their local elections offices, or pick up an application at some post offices, public libraries and the MVA.  The application can also be downloaded from the State Board of Elections website.

Anyone who wants to vote in the November general election must be registered by October 16th at 9:00 PM.