Ballot questions ask voters to approve or reject spending items — typically bonds — or changes to the form, structure or purpose of local government, often by amending the charter. The questions are listed as they will appear on the ballot, with Banner staff providing an explanation of what the question would do and what a “for” or “against” vote means.

Question A

Charter Amendment

Gender Neutrality

The County Charter uses gender-specific words like “he” and “she.” The Charter Amendment would replace these types of words with gender-neutral words like “they” and “them.”

A vote FOR the Amendment would make gender-neutral changes to the Charter.

A vote AGAINST the Amendment would leave gender-specific words unchanged in the Charter.

Explanation:

In 2025, Howard County’s LGBTQIA+ Commission called for a review of the county charter to implement gender-neutral language to reflect that all provisions apply clearly and equally to every individual, regardless of gender identity. This measure asks voters whether Howard should amend its charter to replace gendered pronouns with uniform language, similar to Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Prince George’s counties.

Question B

Charter Amendment

Affordable For-Sale Housing Projects

The County Charter only allows the County to use its capital budget to finance an affordable housing project in its Housing Opportunities Trust Fund if the County owns the project. The Charter Amendment would change this requirement by allowing the County to use its capital budget to finance some or all of an affordable housing project if the project meets certain criteria. The County is not required to own or construct the project, but the Howard County Housing Commission or another entity controlled by the Housing Commission must own the project. The project must only have housing units for sale. The County would repay the bonds for the project over a defined time period, typically 20-30 years, and the affordable for-sale housing units must remain affordable for that period.

A vote FOR the Charter Amendment would allow the County to use its capital budget to finance these affordable for-sale housing projects.

A vote AGAINST the Charter Amendment would require these affordable for-sale housing projects to be financed in ways other than the County’s capital budget.

Explanation:

This proposed charter amendment asks voters whether the county should be allowed to finance affordable housing by taking on debt in the form of bonds, similar to the way it funds capital construction for schools, roads and other infrastructure. The measure does not lock the county into taking on any debt, but gives it the option to do so in the future with public input. Montgomery and Baltimore counties similarly use bonds to fund affordable housing projects.