Participation in Maryland's delegate selection process is open only to voters registered as Democrats.

Tuesday 3 April 2012: 97 of 124 delegates to the Democratic National Convention are allocated to presidential contenders based on the results of the voting in today's Maryland Presidential Primary. A mandatory 15 percent threshold is required in order for a presidential contender to be allocated National Convention delegates at either the congressional district or statewide level.

• 64 district delegates are to be allocated proportionally to presidential contenders based on the primary results in each of the State's 8 congressional districts. District-level delegates are elected by a two-part primary in which delegate positions are allocated based on a Presidential preference primary and filled through the election of delegates directly on the ballot.
• In addition, 33 delegates are to be allocated to presidential contenders based on the primary vote statewide.
  • 21 at-large National Convention delegates
  • 12 Pledged PLEOs

Saturday 12 May 2012: State Democratic Central Committee Meeting.

Pledged PLEO and At-Large National Convention delegates are elected at the Committee Meeting according to the Presidential Preferences expressed at the Primary. District Delegates appear on the primary ballot.

The remaining 27 National Convention delegates consist of

• 27 Unpledged PLEO delegates:
• 17 Democratic National Committee members.
• 8 Members of Congress (2 Senators and 6 Representatives).
• 1 Governor.
• 1 Distinguished Party Leader (former DNC Chairman Joseph J. "Joe" Andrew).

These 27 delegates and will go to the Democratic National Convention officially "Unpledged".

Notes:

Starting on Tuesday 20 March 2012, a 15% pledged delegate bonus is awarded when clusters of 3 or more neighboring states begin on the same date.

• The 14 February 2012 start date is before the 6 March 2012 window and could expose the state to Rule 20.C.1. Sanctions.
• HB 671, signed into law on 10 May 2011 by Governor Martin O'Malley (Democratic), moves the Presidential primary to Tuesday 3 April 2012. The state should receive a 10% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage II (April).

4 February 2011: Senator Roy Dyson (Democratic) introduced SB 501 which would move the Presidential primary from the second Tuesday in February to the first Tuesday in March April (modified 28 March 2011) and move the regular Primary from the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September to the second Tuesday in July last Tuesday in June (modified 28 March 2011).

9 February 2011: Senators Robert Garagiola (Democratic) and Nancy Jacobs (Republican) introduced SB820 which would move the Presidential primary from the second Tuesday in February to the first Tuesday in April and move the regular Primary from the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September to the last Tuesday in June. The companion bill is HB 671 by state Delegates Michael Erin Busch (Democratic), Kumar P. Barve (Democratic), and Anthony J. O'Donnell (Republican).

On 10 May 2011, Governor Martin O'Malley (Democratic) signed HB 671. This bill changes the dates for the Presidential and partisan primaries to the first Tuesday in April in Presidential election years. In non-Presidential election years, the partisan primary is held on the last Tuesday in June.

HB 671 was introduced by state Delegates Michael Erin Busch (Democratic), Kumar P. Barve (Democratic), and Anthony J. O'Donnell (Republican) on 9 February 2011. On that same date, the companion bill, SB820 was introduced by Senators Robert Garagiola (Democratic) and Nancy Jacobs (Republican).