Politics & Government

Voters In Montgomery County: Everything To Know On Election Day

The 2020 election is here. Here's everything Montgomery County voters need to know before casting their ballot.

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BETHESDA, MD — Election Day has arrived, it's time for Montgomery County voters to cast their ballot if they haven't already done so via mail-in ballot or a visit to an early voting site.

There are a lot of instructions you need to remember. And that can make the entire voting process overwhelming and confusing.

But don't fret: Patch has whipped together an all-encompassing voter guide for the 2020 election.

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Here's everything you need to for Election Day.

How to Vote

Mail

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3), and received by the local board of elections by 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13.

Voting Center

You can cast your ballot at one of Montgomery County's voting centers between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Voters will be required to stand 6 feet apart and the number of people inside voting centers will be capped, which may result in lines and wait times. The State Board of Elections says the best time to vote is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Drop Box

You can also deposit your mail-in ballot at any one of Montgomery County's drop box locations. Completed ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Click here for a list of sites.

For full coverage of the 2020 election in Maryland, go to Maryland Elections 2020 topic page.

How to Register to Vote

The voter registration deadline was Oct. 27. But you can still register to vote at an Election Day voting center on Nov. 3.

Remember to bring a document that proves where you live.

Unsure if you're registered to vote? Visit the State Board of Election's voter portal.

Issues on the Ballot

These proposals are referendums that need voters' approval to become law. If passed, the first two questions would alter the listed Maryland laws. The names of these petitions are linked to supplementary, nonpartisan information.

The remaining propositions, if adopted, would require all nine Montgomery County councilmembers to approve a tax rate increase, prohibit the County Council from green-lighting any property tax revenue increase above the rate of inflation, add more seats to the County Council, and divide the county into more Council districts.

Residents can vote for or against the following motions:

Question 1 (Constitutional Amendment)

  • "The proposed amendment authorizes the General Assembly, in enacting a balanced budget bill for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, to increase, diminish, or add items, provided that the General Assembly may not exceed the total proposed budget as submitted by the Governor."
  • (Amending Article II Section 17 and Article III Sections 14 and 52 of the Maryland Constitution)

Question 2 (Commercial Gaming Expansion Referendum)

  • "Do you approve the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education?"
  • (Ch. 492 of the 2020 Legislative Session) Expansion of Commercial Gaming - Sports and Event Wagering

Question A (Charter Amendment by Act of County Council Property Tax Limit)

Amend Section 305 of the County Charter to prohibit the County Council from adopting a tax rate on real property that exceeds the tax rate on real property approved for the previous year, unless all current Councilmembers vote affirmatively for the increase.

This amendment would replace the current property tax limit, which requires an affirmative vote of all current Councilmembers to levy a tax on real property that would produce total revenue that exceeds the total revenue produced by the tax on real property in the preceding fiscal year plus any increase in the Consumer Price Index. The current property tax limit exempts real property tax revenue derived from: (1) newly constructed property; (2) newly rezoned property; (3) certain property assessed differently under State law; (4) property that has undergone a change in use; and (5) property in a development tax district to provide funding for capital improvements.

Question B (Charter Amendment by Petition Property Tax Limit - Prohibit Override)

Amend Section 305 of the County Charter to prohibit the County Council from levying an ad valorem tax on real property that would produce total revenue (not including property tax revenue from certain enumerated sources) that exceeds the total revenue produced by the tax on real property in the preceding fiscal year plus a percentage of the previous year's real property tax revenues that equals any increase in the Consumer Price Index. Section 305 currently permits the County Council to exceed the limit on real property tax revenue only upon the affirmative vote of all current Councilmembers.

Question C (Charter Amendment by Act of County Council; County Council - Increase to 11 Councilmembers)

Amend the County Charter to:

  • expand the County Council to consist of 11, rather than the current 9, Councilmembers;
  • increase from 5 to 7 the number of Council districts; and
  • elect 7 Councilmembers by district and 4 Councilmembers at large.

Question D (Charter Amendment by Petition County Council - Alter Council Composition to 9 Districts)

Amend Sections 102 and 103 of the County Charter to:

  • divide the County into 9, rather than the current 5, Council districts;
  • elect all Councilmembers by district, rather than the current 5 by district and 4 at large; and
  • reduce from 5 to 1 the number of Councilmembers each voter can vote for.

Candidates Running for Office

Every candidate up for federal and county elections is listed below. Their party, where applicable, is noted next to their name.

Each candidate's name is linked to their campaign website, biography, or Patch profile. One judge does not have a campaign page, so Patch linked to his profile in the state's court system. Special instructions and circumstances are listed in parenthesis.

President and Vice President of the United States:

Representative of U.S. Congressional District 8:

  • Jamie Raskin (Democrat)
    • Incumbent
  • Gregory Thomas Coll (Republican)

Representative of U.S. Congressional District 6:

Montgomery County Board of Education At-Large Member:

Montgomery County Board of Education District 2:

Montgomery County Board of Education District 4:

Judge in Circuit 6 of the Maryland Circuit Court (can vote for up to five candidates):

Judge, Court of Appeals - Circuit 7

Judge, Court of Special Appeals - Circuit 7

Election Results

Maryland began counting votes for the upcoming election on Oct. 1.

However, the results will not be released until polls have closed and all people in line have voted on Election Day.

"(On) election night we anticipate releasing three sets of results," Nikki Charlson, deputy administrator at the Maryland State Board of Elections, said on WYPR's Midday show recently.

"Once voting is over, we will release the results from early voting, we will release the results from the mail-in ballots that have been counted before Election Day, and then later in the evening we will release the results from Election Day," she said.

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Related:Maryland Elections 2020

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