Question 1 · Legislative constitutional amendment
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026
The governor's yearly budget would have to include the money needed to carry out every labor contract the state reaches with its employees, including pay and benefit terms set by an arbitrator when talks stall. A companion law in the same chapter, which takes effect only if voters approve, adds binding arbitration to state employee bargaining.
Passes with: Simple majority of the votes cast statewide on the question (Maryland Constitution, Article XIV, section 1).
Official ballot summary (the state’s text)
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) 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.
Official fiscal summary
State Effect: If the proposed constitutional amendment is approved by the voters, State expenditures (all funds) increase annually, likely by at least $150,000, if not significantly more, beginning in FY 2028 for arbitration services and additional labor relations/human resources personnel, as discussed below. State personnel and other expenditures (all funds) are affected, potentially significantly, as early as FY 2029, as discussed below. Revenues are not directly affected. This assessment does not reflect any potential alteration in MES’s nonbudgeted status as a result of the bill, as discussed below. Local Effect: Local government finances are not directly affected. [Department of Legislative Services, Fiscal and Policy Note, Third Reader - Revised, House Bill 604 (2026 session); written for the bill, not printed on the ballot.]
Committees for and against: not yet checked.
Sources: Maryland State Board of Elections, Ballot Questions for the November 3, 2026 Election; Full text.
Question 2 · Legislative constitutional amendment
Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities
When a member of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, the body that handles complaints about judges, steps aside from a case or reaches the end of a term with no successor, the commission's chair could bring back a former member or ask the governor to name a temporary member or keep the current one on. Anyone filling in would have to meet the same qualifications as the member being replaced.
Passes with: Simple majority of the votes cast statewide on the question (Maryland Constitution, Article XIV, section 1).
Official ballot summary (the state’s text)
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) 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.
Official fiscal summary
State Effect: If the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters, the Commission on Judicial Disabilities experiences operational efficiencies; there is otherwise no material impact on State finances or operations. Local Effect: None. [Department of Legislative Services, Fiscal and Policy Note, Third Reader, Senate Bill 933 (2026 session); written for the bill, not printed on the ballot.]
Committees for and against: not yet checked.
Sources: Maryland State Board of Elections, Ballot Questions for the November 3, 2026 Election; Full text.
Question 3 · Legislative constitutional amendment
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress
The state constitution's rules for drawing districts, such as compact shapes and respect for county lines, would be limited to State Senate and House of Delegates districts, and the constitution would say it sets no standards for U.S. House district lines. The General Assembly could also let the Supreme Court of Maryland hear challenges to a congressional map directly.
Passes with: Simple majority of the votes cast statewide on the question (Maryland Constitution, Article XIV, section 1).
Official ballot summary (the state’s text)
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)
Official fiscal summary
State Effect: The proposed constitutional amendment is not anticipated to materially affect State operations or finances. Local Effect: None. [Department of Legislative Services, Fiscal and Policy Note, Third Reader - Revised, House Bill 2100 (2026 special session); written for the bill, not printed on the ballot.]
Committees for and against: not yet checked.
Court challenges
- Maryland State Board of Elections, et al. v. Michael L. Howell, et al. (No. 21) and Maryland State Board of Elections, et al. v. Lindsay Wheatley, et al. (No. 22), September Term 2026; from the Circuit Courts for Anne Arundel County (C-02-CV-26-001986) and Dorchester County (C-09-CV-26-000285), Supreme Court of Maryland: Decided Sept. 3, 2026 by per curiam order (a majority concurring; Justice Gould, joined by Senior Justice Harrell, dissented; Justice Biran did not participate). Two circuit courts had barred the question from the ballot. The Supreme Court reversed that bar, rejecting the timing and single-subject grounds, but agreed that one clause of the question text written in Chapter 881 was misleading, and ordered the State Board to use the chapter's purpose paragraph as the question instead. The court said a full opinion would follow. Supreme Court of Maryland, Nos. 21 and 22, Sept. Term 2026, per curiam order and dissent (Sept. 3, 2026)
Sources: Maryland State Board of Elections, Ballot Questions for the November 3, 2026 Election; Full text.