Anne Arundel County, MD

Official ballot wording

Constitutional Amendment (Ch. 155 of the 2026 Legislative Session)

Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

Providing that each budget submitted by the Governor shall include proposed expenditures necessary to implement wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment in each collective bargaining memorandum of understanding with State employees, whether the State and State employees reached those terms and conditions by mutual agreement or through a neutral decider's order.

(Amending Article III of the Maryland Constitution)

Choices: For the Constitutional Amendment / Against the Constitutional Amendment

A YES vote (For the Constitutional Amendment): A vote FOR this amendment means that the Governor has to include money in the proposed State budget to pay for agreements between the State and its employees. Agreements might include changes to wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Governor must put enough money in the State budget to cover the agreed upon pay and benefits for employees, whether those terms were negotiated or decided by a neutral decision-maker.

A NO vote (Against the Constitutional Amendment): A vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same.

To pass: a majority of the votes cast on the question.

Full text, statements for and against

Official ballot wording

Constitutional Amendment (Ch. 878 of the 2026 Legislative Session)

Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities

Authorizing temporary substitute appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities when a member is recused or disqualified, or when a member's term expires. In these situations, the Commission Chair may recall a former member of the Commission, or the Governor, at the request of the Commission Chair, may appoint a temporary substitute member or extend the term of a current member until a permanent replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission.

(Amending Article IV of the Maryland Constitution)

Choices: For the Constitutional Amendment / Against the Constitutional Amendment

A YES vote (For the Constitutional Amendment): A vote FOR this amendment means that temporary appointments to the Commission are allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends without a replacement. The Commission Chair can temporarily fill an opening on the Commission with a former member. The Governor can, at the request of the Commission Chair pick a temporary substitute to fill an opening on the Commission or extend the term of a current member until a replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission.

A NO vote (Against the Constitutional Amendment): A vote AGAINST the amendment means that current membership rules for the Commission stay the same. Temporary appointments are not allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends.

To pass: a majority of the votes cast on the question.

Full text, statements for and against

Official ballot wording

Constitutional Amendment (Ch. 881 of the 2026 Legislative Session)

Electoral Districts – General Assembly and Congressional Representatives

FOR the purpose of clarifying that certain requirements apply only to districts for the election of members of the Senate of Maryland and the House of Delegates; authorizing the General Assembly to grant original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of Maryland to review the congressional districting plan of the State; and providing that nothing in the Maryland Constitution provides applicable criteria for the boundaries of a congressional districting plan.

(Amending Article III of the Maryland Constitution)

Choices: For the Constitutional Amendment / Against the Constitutional Amendment

A YES vote (For the Constitutional Amendment): Approves the amendment as worded: the constitution's district requirements would apply only to Maryland Senate and House of Delegates districts, the General Assembly could let the Supreme Court of Maryland review the congressional map directly, and the constitution would set no criteria for congressional district lines.

A NO vote (Against the Constitutional Amendment): The amendment is not adopted and this part of the Maryland Constitution stays as it is.

To pass: a majority of the votes cast on the question.

From the official explanatory statement: The ballot wording was set by a Supreme Court of Maryland order dated September 3, 2026. The State Board of Elections did not publish separate FOR and AGAINST statements for this question.

Full text, statements for and against

Official ballot wording

CHARTER AMENDMENT (Resolution No. 30-25)

Executive Branch – Merit System - Binding Arbitration

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to permit all authorized employee representatives to enter into binding arbitration to resolve labor disputes relating to the terms and conditions of employment.

Choices: FOR Charter Amendment / AGAINST Charter Amendment

A YES vote (FOR Charter Amendment): A vote FOR the charter amendment would permit all authorized employee representatives to enter into binding arbitration to resolve labor disputes relating to the terms and conditions of employment.

A NO vote (AGAINST Charter Amendment): A vote AGAINST the charter amendment would retain the current binding arbitration provisions in the County Charter, meaning only authorized employee representatives of uniformed firefighters and uniformed officers of the County Police Department, Sheriff's Department, and Office of Detention Facilities may enter into binding arbitration to resolve labor disputes relating to the terms and conditions of employment.

To pass: a majority of the votes cast on the question.

From the official explanatory statement: Currently, only authorized employee representatives of uniformed firefighters and uniformed officers of the County Police Department, Sheriff's Department, and Office of Detention Facilities may enter into binding arbitration with the County to resolve labor disputes relating to the terms and conditions of employment. There are several other labor organizations in the County that cannot enter into binding arbitration with the County.

Full text, statements for and against

Official ballot wording

CHARTER AMENDMENT (Resolution No. 15-26)

Legislative Branch – Officers – Specific Position Titles

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to remove specific position titles from the officers appointed by the Council.

Choices: FOR Charter Amendment / AGAINST Charter Amendment

A YES vote (FOR Charter Amendment): A vote FOR the charter amendment would remove from the County Charter the specific position titles of the officers the County Council may appoint.

A NO vote (AGAINST Charter Amendment): A vote AGAINST the charter amendment would retain the current Charter provision that the County Council shall appoint an officer with the specific position title of Administrative Officer.

To pass: a majority of the votes cast on the question.

From the official explanatory statement: Currently, the Charter provides that the County Council shall have an Administrative Officer appointed by the Council and other officers as provided in the County Council's Rules of Procedure.

Full text, statements for and against

Official ballot wording

CHARTER AMENDMENT (Resolution No. 18-26)

Executive Branch – Planning Advisory Board – Staggered Terms – Council Confirmation

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to establish staggered terms for the appointees to the Planning Advisory Board and to require County Council confirmation of County Executive appointments to the Planning Advisory Board.

Choices: FOR Charter Amendment / AGAINST Charter Amendment

A YES vote (FOR Charter Amendment): A vote FOR the charter amendment would require, starting December 2026, staggered initial terms for appointees to the seven-member County Planning Advisory Board and County Council confirmation of the County Executive's appointees, meaning the County Executive, with the confirmation of the County Council, would appoint one member for a one-year term, two members for two-year terms, two members for three-year terms, and two members for four-year terms, with four-year terms for all members thereafter.

A NO vote (AGAINST Charter Amendment): A vote AGAINST the charter amendment would retain the current terms of members of the Planning Advisory Board, meaning a term coterminous with the County Executive's term or until their successor shall qualify, and retain the authority of the County Executive to appoint members of the Planning Advisory Board without confirmation of the County Council.

To pass: a majority of the votes cast on the question.

From the official explanatory statement: Currently, the members of the Planning Advisory Board are appointed by the County Executive and serve terms coterminous with the County Executive or until their successors are appointed.

Full text, statements for and against