This year’s election ballot will include twenty questions on the Baltimore City ballot: 7 for the State of Maryland, and 13 for Baltimore City.
Before you get to the polls, be sure to download and read the sample ballot (.pdf) so you will have a better understanding of the questions. You can also scroll down and read the language of each question in this blog post.
If you would like more information about the twenty ballot initiatives, the Board of Elections provides a detailed non-technical break down of each question. Click here to view their website. To learn about the Baltimore City Bond issues (Questions A through I), visit the Baltimore City website about those questions.
Need more info about voter registration, early voting and your polling place? Visit our Elections Page for quick links to all important voter information.
CPHA urges voters to vote AGAINST
- Question 7: Gaming Expansion Referendum: Gaming Expansion – CPHA is encouraging voters to vote against this question because there is no guarantee that the revenues will return to schools or neighborhoods. The promise to do so is not sufficient for support. Learn why you should vote No on Question 7 at this website.
- Question K: Charter Amendment: Municipal Elections – Changing the Baltimore City’s election cycle to the presidential cycle instead of the gubernatorial cycle is a detriment to the City’s voting process. Due to the high numbers of Democrats, the City’s Primary Elections are the most important date, and Baltimore voters come out more regularly for the Gubernatorial Primary Elections than the Presidential Primaries. Learn more about this issue on CPHA’s blog.
CPHA urges voters to vote FOR all other questions, and in particular Questions 4 and 6.
- Question 4: The Maryland Dream Act – This is a step toward education equality, giving highly successful students the ability to go to college and further their careers with an affordable price tag. The law was passed in April 2011 by the state legislature and was signed into law on May 10, 2011 by Governor Martin O’Malley. Now you can support it as you vote! Read more about the law on our website.
- Question 6: Civil Marriage Equality Law – Civil marriage is a civil rights issue. To hear from Marylanders about this issue, you can watch videos at this link, and to read about the Marylanders for Marriage Equality campaign, click here.
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MARYLAND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Question 1: Constitutional Amendment: Qualifications of Prince George County Orphans’ court judges
- Amending article IV section 40 of Maryland constitution
Requires judges of the Orphans’ Court of Prince Georges County to be admitted to practice law in this state and to be a member in good standing in the Maryland Bar
Question 2: Constitutional Amendment: Qualifications of Baltimore County Orphans’ court judges
-Amending article IV section 40 of Maryland constitution
Requires judges of the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore County to be admitted to practice law in this state and to be a member in good standing in the Maryland Bar
Question 3: Constitutional Amendment: Suspension and removal of elected officials
- Amending article XV, Section 2 of the Maryland constitution
Changes the point at which an elected official charged with certain crimes is automatically suspended or removed from office. Under existing law, an elected official who is convicted or pleads no contest is suspended and removed only when the conviction becomes final. Under the amended law, an elected official is suspended when found guilty and is removed when the conviction becomes final or when the elected official pleads guilty or no contest.
STATE REFERENDUM PETITIONS
Question 4: Referred petition: Public institutions of higher education- tuition rates
Establishes that individuals, including undocumented immigrants, are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at community colleges in Maryland, provided the student meets certain conditions relating to attendance and graduation from a Maryland high school, filing of income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registrations with the selective service system (if required); makes such students eligible to apply for in-state tuition at a four-year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland; provides for students applying for in-state tuition rates by this method will not be counted as in-state students for purposes of counting undergraduate enrollment; and extends in the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in-state tuition rates.
Question 5: Referendum Petition: Congressional Districting Plan
Establishes the boundaries for the state’s eight United States congressional districts based on recent census figures, as required by the United States Constitution.
Question 6: Referendum Petition: Civil Marriage Protection Act
Establishes that Maryland’s Civil Marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protecting clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provides goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.
Question 7: Gaming Expansion Referendum: Gaming Expansion
Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education to authorize video lottery operation licensees to operate “table games” as defined by law; to increase from 15,000 to 16,500 the maximum number of video lottery terminals that may be operated in the State; and to increase from 5 to 6 the maximum number of video lottery operation licenses that may be awarded in the State and allow a video lottery facility to operate in Prince George’s County?
CITY BOND ISSUES
Question A: Bond Issue: School Loan
Ordinance No. 12-25 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $34,000,000, to be used for the acquisition of land or property to construct and erect new school buildings, athletic and auxiliary facilities; and for additions and improvements to or modernization or reconstruction of existing school buildings or facilities; and to equip all buildings to be constructed, erected, improved, modernized, or reconstructed by the ordinance; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question B: Bond Issue
Recreation and Parks and Environmental Improvement Loan
Ordinance No. 12-24 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $8,000,000 to be used for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, installation, erection, protection, extension, enlargement, renovation and modernization of, and additions and improvements to public park or recreation land, property, buildings, structures, or facilities, for tree planting programs and for equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question C: Bond Issue: Community Development Loan
Ordinance No. 12-18 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $24,000,000 to be used for, or in connection with, planning, developing, executing and making operative the community development program of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question D: Bond Issue: Economic Development Loan
Ordinance No. 12-20 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $15,800,000 to be used for, or in connection with, planning, developing, executing and making operative the commercial and industrial economic development program of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; authorizing loans and grants to various projects and programs related to improving cultural life and promotion of tourism in Baltimore City and for doing any and all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question E: Bond Issue: Public Building Loan
Ordinance No. 12-23 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $17,000,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; for the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities owned or controlled by the City and the Enoch Pratt Free Library; and for the equipping, operations, functions and activities of any existing and new buildings or facilities to be constructed, renovated, altered, or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question F: Bond Issue: Walters Art Museum Loan
Ordinance No.12-26 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $300,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and for the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be or now being used by or in connection with the operations, functions and activities of the Walters Art Museum; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question G: Bond Issue: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Loan
Ordinance No.12-22 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $200,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and for the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be or now being used by or in connection with the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question H: Bond Issue: Maryland Science Center Loan
Ordinance No.12-21 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $200,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and for the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be or now being used by or in connection with the operations, functions and activities of the Maryland Science Center; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
Question I: Bond Issue: Baltimore Museum of Art Loan
Ordinance No.12-21 to authorize the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $500,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property; and for the construction, erection, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, installation, improvement, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be or now being used by or in connection with the Baltimore Museum of Art; and for the equipping of any and all existing and new buildings, structures, and facilities authorized to be constructed, renovated, altered or improved by this Ordinance; and for doing all things necessary, proper or expedient in connection therewith.
BALTIMORE CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Question J: Charter Amendment: Stormwater Utility
Resolution No 12-04 for the purpose of establishing a financially self-sustaining stormwater utility; authorizing supplemental legislation to implement the provisions governing water, sanitary wastewater, and stormwater utilities; correcting, clarifying, and conforming related language; and providing for a special effective date.
Question K: Charter Amendment: Municipal Elections
Resolution No. 12-03 for the purpose of confirming State Legislation, by providing for the election of the Mayor, Comptroller, and the President and Members of the City Council in 2016 and in every succeeding fourth year; adjusting the terms of office for those elected in 2011.
Question L: Charter Amendment: Minority Party Representation on Boards and Commissions
Resolution No. 12-05 for the purpose of allowing voters registered as unaffiliated or as third party members to sit on City boards and commissions as minority party representatives; defining a certain term; generally relating to minority party representation on City boards and commissions.
Question M: Charter Amendment: Quadrennial Agency Audits
Resolution No. 12-09 for the purpose of requiring certain City agencies to have their operations audited at least once during every 4-year term of the Mayor and City Council; defining certain terms; specifying who may conduct the audits; and requiring certain reports.
