Democratic sample ballot: Anne Arundel County

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. (Amending Article III of the Maryland Constitution)

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. (Amending Article IV of the Maryland Constitution)

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