What does a YES vote on Frederick Question A mean?

Frederick County Council members could serve no more than three terms in their lifetime, and the County Executive no more than two.

What does a NO vote on Frederick Question A mean?

The limits would stay at three consecutive terms for Council members and two consecutive terms for the County Executive.

Could someone who served three Council terms, took a break, and returned run again?

Not if this passes. The three-term Council limit and two-term Executive limit would count all terms, not just consecutive ones.

Does an appointment to fill a vacancy count as a term?

Only if the appointee serves two or more years of that term; this rule is unchanged.

How many votes does Frederick 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 Frederick 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.

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.

Frederick Question A — Charter Amendment: Term limits for the County Council and County Executive

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 2:38 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: This Charter Amendment would prohibit a County Council member from serving more than three terms in their lifetime and prohibit the County Executive from serving more than two terms in their lifetime. A vote for the charter amendment would limit a County Council member from serving more than three terms and a County Executive from serving more than two terms. A vote against the Charter Amendment would continue to permit a County Council member to serve no more than three consecutive terms, and a County Executive from serving more than two consecutive terms.
A YES vote means: Frederick County Council members could serve no more than three terms in their lifetime, and the County Executive no more than two.
A NO vote means: The limits would stay at three consecutive terms for Council members and two consecutive terms for the County Executive.
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: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

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

Explained

Today

Frederick County's Charter limits County Council members to three consecutive four-year terms and the County Executive to two consecutive terms.
Because the limits apply only to consecutive terms, a person who reaches the limit can run again for the same office after sitting out at least one term.
An appointee who serves two or more years of a vacant term is counted as having served one full term; less than two years does not count.

If it passes

The word "consecutive" would be deleted from both limits, making them lifetime limits: no one could serve more than three terms on the County Council or more than two terms as County Executive.
The rule for counting partial terms served by appointees would not change, and terms would still be four years.

Who would notice

Current and former Frederick County Council members and County Executives, future candidates for those offices, and voters choosing among them. It has no tax effect.

How it got here

The Frederick County Council placed the amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot by Resolution 26-15, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Frederick Question A mean?: Frederick County Council members could serve no more than three terms in their lifetime, and the County Executive no more than two.
What does a NO vote on Frederick Question A mean?: The limits would stay at three consecutive terms for Council members and two consecutive terms for the County Executive.
Could someone who served three Council terms, took a break, and returned run again?: Not if this passes. The three-term Council limit and two-term Executive limit would count all terms, not just consecutive ones.
Does an appointment to fill a vacancy count as a term?: Only if the appointee serves two or more years of that term; this rule is unchanged.
How many votes does Frederick 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 Frederick 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.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Frederick County ballot.

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