There will be three Constitutional Amendments and three Statewide Referendums and one other question that will appear statewide on the general election ballots. The ballot language will be certified by the Secretary of State on the 3rd Monday in August. Additionally, local ballot questions may appear on the ballot in certain counties. Montgomery County's 12th Election District will have a local referendum passed by the General Assembly on the ballot.
Statewide Ballot Questions
Constitutional Amendments
- Question 1 - Prince George's County - Orphans' Court Judges - Qualifications
- Question 2 - Baltimore County - Orphans' Court Judges - Qualifications
- Question 3 - Elected Officials - Removal from Office - Crimes
Referendums by Petition
- Question 4 - Public Institutions of Higher Education – Tuition Rates - Exemption
- Question 5 - Congressional Districting Plan
- Question 6 - Civil Marriage Protection Act
Other Statewide Ballot Questions
- Question 7 - Gaming Expansion - Video Lottery Terminals and Table Games - Lottery Machines - Veterans' Organizations
Local Referendums by General Assembly
- Damascus - Class H Beer and Light Wine Licenses - Repeal of Prohibition MC 6-12
Local Ballot Questions
- Anne Arundel County
15 Charter Amendments (Questions A-O) - Baltimore City
9 Bond Issues (Questions A-I)
4 Charter Amendments (Questions J-M) - Baltimore County
9 County Ordinances (Questions A-I) - Frederick County
1 County Charter Adoption (Question A) - Harford County
7 Charter Amendments (Questions A-G) - Howard County
5 Charter Amendments (Questions A-E) - Montgomery County
1 Charter Amendment (Question A)
1 Local Referendum (Question B) - Prince George's County
7 Charter Required Referendums (Questions A-G) - Queen Anne's County
2 Local Referendums by Petition (Questions A-B) - Washington County (City of Hagerstown Only)
1 Municipal Question (Question A) - Wicomico County
4 Charter Amendments (Questions A-D)
Additional Information about Ballot Questions
- Constitutional Amendments and Statewide Referendums - Questions originated by General Assembly legislation appear on the ballot statewide. The Secretary of State (SOS) prepares the question language as it is to appear on the ballot. The deadline for the SOS to certify the ballot language to the State Board of Elections (SBE) is the 3rd Monday in August. The language will be posted on the SBE website www.elections.state.md.us after certification.
- Local Referendums and Public Local Law Referendum - Questions originated by General Assembly legislation only appear on the ballot in that County. SBE prepares the ballot question language. The deadline for SBE to certify the ballot language to the local board of elections (LBE) is the 2nd Monday in August. The language will be posted on the SBE website after certification.
- Local Ballot Questions - The county attorney prepares the ballot question language. The deadline for the County Attorney to certify the ballot language to the LBE is the 3rd Monday in August. The LBE forwards the ballot language to SBE for incorporation in general election ballot development. The local ballot question language will be posted on the SBE website after certification.
- Maryland law does not provide for the Initiative process (this is the process used by the public to get questions on the ballot used in other states)
- The complete text of legislation passed by the General Assembly can be obtained from the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) website. DLS is required to prepare a non-technical summary of the ballot question legislation passed by the General Assembly. The deadline for DLS to provide the summaries to SBE is the 4th Monday in August. The summaries will be posted on the SBE website when they are provided and will provide a link to the complete text of each piece of legislation.