Anne Arundel Question A — Charter Amendment: Executive Branch – Merit System - Binding Arbitration

What it does

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.

A YES vote means

All authorized employee representatives in Anne Arundel County could use binding arbitration to settle labor disputes over terms and conditions of employment.

A NO vote means

Only representatives of uniformed firefighters and uniformed officers of the Police Department, Sheriff's Department and Office of Detention Facilities could use binding arbitration.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Anne Arundel County Council proposed this charter amendment by Resolution No. 30-25, according to the amendment text posted by the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Charter Section 812 now requires the council to provide by ordinance for binding arbitration of labor disputes only with uniformed police, sheriff's and detention officers and with uniformed firefighters. The amendment would extend it to represented employees.

Under the section, a neutral arbitrator's binding decision is carried out in the next year's budget process and must consider the county's financial condition. Any ordinance must prohibit strikes or work stoppages.

Put on the ballot by Anne Arundel County Council (Resolution No. 30-25).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Anne Arundel County ballots

• Anne Arundel Question B — Charter Amendment: Legislative Branch – Officers – Specific Position Titles
• Anne Arundel Question C — Charter Amendment: Executive Branch – Planning Advisory Board – Staggered Terms – Council Confirmation

All Anne Arundel County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Anne Arundel Question A mean?

All authorized employee representatives in Anne Arundel County could use binding arbitration to settle labor disputes over terms and conditions of employment.

What does a NO vote on Anne Arundel Question A mean?

Only representatives of uniformed firefighters and uniformed officers of the Police Department, Sheriff's Department and Office of Detention Facilities could use binding arbitration.

How many votes does Anne Arundel Question A need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Anne Arundel Question A?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.