Maryland Voters Face Long Ballot On Election Day

Maryland voters face a long ballot when they hit the polls on Tuesday. In addition to federal and local elections, there are seven statewide ballot questions to be decided.

Questions one, two, and three are all amendments to the state's constitution, and the language explaining each is somewhat unambiguous. Approval of question three would force any elected official convicted of certain crimes be removed from office upon conviction instead of upon sentencing.

Question six, related to same-sex marriage, also have fairly easy to understand language on the ballot. If individuals support either, they would vote for the referred law. Individuals that do not support the law would vote against it.

Question seven deals with the expansion of gaming, calling for a casino in Prince George's County, likely at National Harbor, and table games such as roulette and blackjack at all Maryland casinos.

Question five might be the most difficult to understand. It deals with the new congressional redistricting map in Maryland. If individuals want congressional districts to stay as they were redrawn for the next decade, they would vote for the referred law. If individuals would like to see them redrawn by the next congressional election in 2014, they would vote against the referred law.

The outcome of the Question five vote does not have any effect on the congressional elections this year, as the districts will remain the same for the next two years.