Laws governing ballot measures in Maryland
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Maryland, including constitutional amendments and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Maryland
- Amending the Maryland Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Maryland
- Laws governing recall in Maryland
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Maryland
- Campaign finance requirements for Maryland ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Maryland
Laws governing ballot measures in Maryland
Types of ballot measures in Maryland
- In Maryland, citizens have the power to initiate veto referendums at the state level.
- In Maryland, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments and legislatively referred state statutes to the ballot.
- A total of 60 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2024 in Maryland. Fifty-five ballot measures were approved, and five ballot measures were defeated.
Amending the Maryland Constitution
- Maryland became a state in 1867. The current state constitution was ratified in 1867.
- The Maryland Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—legislatively referred constitutional amendments and convention-referred constitutional amendments. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Maryland State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Maryland requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
- According to Section 2 of Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1970. Maryland is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Maryland
- The Maryland Constitution authorizes municipal and county charter amendments by initiative.
Laws governing recall in Maryland
- Maryland law does not provide for the recall of state officials.
- In Maryland, local elected officials can be recalled at the municipal level, with the process set out in city charters. The rules vary by city.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Maryland
- According to Section 2 of Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1970. Maryland is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Campaign finance requirements for Maryland ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Maryland must register and report campaign finance.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Maryland
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
- House Bill 322: Changes the process for municipalities to file requests with the state board of elections to include municipal offices and questions on statewide ballots; requires municipalities making such requests to certify that they have established deadlines and procedures consistent with the state deadlines for petition filings and certification of ballot questions.[1]
| HB 322 Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 41 | 5 | 1 | 99 | 34 | 6 |
| Democratic (D) | 33 | 0 | 1 | 95 | 0 | 5 |
| Republican (R) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 34 | 1 |
See also
Footnotes
