Maryland 2026 ballot measures
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As of January 12, 2026, one statewide ballot measure was certified to appear on the ballot in Maryland in 2026.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission on Judicial Disabilities Vacancies Amendment | Judiciary | Allow the chair of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities to appoint former members to temporarily fill vacancies or allow the governor to appoint a substitute member or extend the term of an existing member |
Getting measures on the ballot
In Maryland, the number of signatures required for a veto referendum is equal to 3% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.
For non-emergency bills, at least one-third of the required signatures must be filed with the secretary of state by the first of June on which the bill would have gone into effect. If this is accomplished, petitioners have until June 30 to turn in the remaining two-thirds of the required signatures.
For emergency bills or bills passed less than 45 days before June 1, referendum petitioners have until 30 days after the bill is passed by the legislature to turn in one-third of the required signatures. If this is accomplished, they have 30 more days to collect and submit the remaining two-thirds of the signatures. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Maryland State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 85 votes in the Maryland House of Delegates and 29 votes in the Maryland State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Section 1 of Article XIX of the Maryland Constitution requires that the Maryland General Assembly submit laws expanding commercial wagering to a referendum at a general election. A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Maryland State Legislature to place a state statute on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 71 votes in the Maryland House of Delegates and 24 votes in the Maryland State Senate, assuming no vacancies. The governor must sign the legislation within 30 days, or the measure will be certified for the ballot without the governor's signature.
Historical facts
- See also: List of Maryland ballot measures
In Maryland, a total of 60 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2024. Fifty-five ballot measures were approved, and five ballot measures were defeated.
| Maryland statewide ballot measures, 1985-2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Not on the ballot
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Budget Bill Appropriations for State Employee Salaries and Benefits Amendment (2026) | Legislative processes | Require budget bills to include expenditures to cover wages and benefits for state employees | |
| Maryland Changes to Filling Vacancies in the State Legislature Amendment (2026) | Legislature | Require that state legislative vacancies occurring 55 days or more before the candidate filing deadline be filled through special primary and general elections held concurrently with the state’s regular primary and general elections | |
| Maryland Solar Energy Facility Regulations Referendum (2026) | Solar energy; Land use | Uphold Senate Bill 931, which addressed solar energy facility construction and zoning |
State profile
| Demographic data for Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 5,994,983 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 9,707 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 57.6% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 29.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 3% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 9% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 37.9% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $74,551 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 10.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Maryland. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Maryland
Maryland voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Maryland coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Maryland
- United States congressional delegations from Maryland
- Public policy in Maryland
- Endorsers in Maryland
- Maryland fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2026 ballot measures
- List of Maryland ballot measures
- Campaign finance requirements for Maryland ballot measures
