Three questions are on every Maryland ballot this year.

All three are constitutional amendments, and all three print on every ballot in the state. Your county or city may add local questions; your sample ballot shows them. Here is each one as printed, and what a vote for or against does.

Question 1

Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

Printed with the two statements the plain-language law requires: what a vote for does, and what a vote against does.

Question 1Constitutional 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.

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 vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same.

  • For the Constitutional Amendment
  • Against the Constitutional Amendment
58 words1 sentenceAs printed on the Kent County specimen ballot

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Question 2

Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities

Also printed with both statements.

Question 2Constitutional 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.

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 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.

  • For the Constitutional Amendment
  • Against the Constitutional Amendment
83 words3 sentencesAs printed on the Kent County specimen ballot

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Question 3

Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress

Printed with no statement of what either vote does. The dashed box holds what it could have said, in this site’s words. The text, with the sentence it replaced and the state’s summary.

Question 3Constitutional Amendment
(Ch. 881 of the 2026 Legislative Session)
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress

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.

Nothing printed here. What it could have said, in this site’s words:

A vote FOR: The state constitution would set no rules for drawing districts for Congress. Lawmakers could send any court case over the map straight to the state’s top court.

A vote AGAINST: Districts for Congress must still be connected, compact and equal in population, and respect county lines. Those are the rules a judge used to throw out a map in 2022. A court case over the map still starts in a local court.

  • For the Constitutional Amendment
  • Against the Constitutional Amendment
69 words1 sentenceAs printed, after the Supreme Court of Maryland’s order of September 3, 2026

This site makes a case against Question 3 and takes no position on Questions 1 and 2. Why we’re against it.

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When and where

Vote early, by mail, or on November 3.

Early voting runs October 22 through 29, 7 am to 8 pm, at any center in your county. Mail ballots must be postmarked or in a drop box by 8 pm on election day.

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