Voter Guide | Everything DMV voters need to know about Nov. 5 General Election

WASHINGTON — On Nov. 5, voters across the country will head to the polls to make their voices heard in races that will decide the political agenda of our country, from the next president of the United States to senators, representatives and myriad local seats as well as constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives/questions. 

To help you prepare before you cast a ballot, we've broken down what you can expect to see if you're registered in Maryland, Virginia or D.C. We'll start with statewide races, and then narrow it down to county-by-county. 

MARYLAND STATEWIDE

President

U.S. Senator

Amendments

MD Question 1: Constitutional Amendment ─ Right to Reproductive Freedom

The proposed amendment confirms an individual's fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual's pregnancy, and provides the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge, the right unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

VIRGINIA STATEWIDE

President

U.S. Senator

Amendments

VA Question 1: Constitutional Amendment: Surviving Spouses Tax Exemption

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended so that the tax exemption that is currently available to the surviving spouses of soldiers "killed in action" is also available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who "died in the line of duty"?

DC

President

U.S. Shadow Senator

U.S. Shadow Representative

D.C. Non-Voting Delegate, U.S. Congress

Ballot Initiatives

Initiative 83: Ranked Choice Voting and Open Primary Elections to Independent Voters Act of 2024

If enacted, the Initiative would both: (a) implement ranked choice voting to allow voters to rank up to five candidates according to their preference in each contest for any office (other than political party offices); and (b) permit any voter who is not registered with a political party to vote in the primary election of that voter's choosing for all offices (other than political party offices). This Initiative will not be implemented unless the D.C. Council separately chooses to appropriate funds for the projected costs.

MARYLAND COUNTY-BY-COUNTY 

Allegany County

U.S. Congress: District 6

Board of Education 

Cumberland City Council 

Calvert County

U.S. Congress: District 5

Board of Education: District 1

Board of Education: District 2

Board of Education: District 3

Charles County

U.S. Congress: District 5

Board of Education: At-Large

Question A: County Charter Adoption Referendum Proposal to Change form of County Government 

A proposal to adopt the Charter as proposed by the Charles County Charter Board which would change the form of Charles County Government from Code Home Rule to a Charter form of Government. Voting “For the Charter” would adopt the Charter and change the form of Charles County Government. Voting “Against the Charter” would keep the current Code Home Rule form of government.

Frederick County

U.S. Congress: District 6

Board of Education

Montgomery County

U.S. Congress: District 4

U.S. Congress: District 6

U.S. Congress: District 8

Board of Education: At-Large

Board of Education: District 2

Board of Education: District 4

Question A: Charter Amendment by Petition County Executive – Term Limit Reduction from Three to Two Consecutive Terms 

Amend Section 202 of the County Charter to decrease the term limit that applies to the County Executive from the current three consecutive terms to two consecutive terms. The decreased limit would apply to anyone who already has served two consecutive terms as of December 2026.

Prince George's County

U.S. Congress: District 4

U.S. Congress: District 5

Council: At-Large

Board of Education: District 1

Board of Education: District 5

Board of Education: District 7

Board of Education: District 8

Question A: County Buildings Bonds 

An act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $96,720,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of County Buildings, including the acquisition and development of sites therefor, the architectural and engineering services incident thereto, and the acquisition and installation of necessary fixed permanent equipment therefor, as defined therein.

Question B: Library Facilities Bonds 

An act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $17,284,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Library Facilities, including the acquisition and development of sites therefor, the architectural and engineering services incident thereto, and the acquisition and installation of necessary fixed permanent equipment therefor, as defined therein.

Question C: Community College Facilities Bonds

An act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $194,380,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Community College Facilities, including the acquisition and development of sites therefor, the architectural and engineering services incident thereto, and the acquisition and installation of necessary fixed permanent equipment therefor, as defined therein.

Question D: Public Works and Transportation Facilities Bonds 

An act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $311,873,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Public Works and Transportation Facilities (including roads and bridges, parking lots, and maintenance facilities), including the acquisition and development of sites therefor, the architectural and engineering services incident thereto, and the acquisition and installation of necessary fixed permanent equipment therefor, as defined therein. 

Question E: Public Safety Facilities Bonds

An act enabling the County to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $40,205,000 to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, extension, acquisition, improvement, enlargement, alteration, renovation, relocation, rehabilitation or repair of Public Safety Facilities (including Fire Department Facilities), including the acquisition and development of sites therefor, the architectural and engineering services incident thereto, and the acquisition and installation of necessary fixed permanent equipment therefor, as defined therein.

Question F: Charter Amendment - Agency Staffing Levels 

To provide that during any fiscal year, no agency of County government may exceed the number of positions for that agency as approved in the operating budget without the prior approval of the Council.

St. Mary's County 

U.S. Congress: District 5

Board of Education: At-Large

Board of Education: District 2

Board of Education: District 4

Washington County

U.S. Congress: District 6

Hagerstown Mayor

Hagerstown Council

Board of Education

VIRGINIA COUNTY-BY-COUNTY 

Alexandria City

U.S. Congress: District 8

Mayor

Council

Arlington County

U.S. Congress: District 8

VA Board

School Board

Metro & Transportation Bonds: Yes or No

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $72,405,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other transit, pedestrian, road or transportation projects?  

Parks and Recreation Bonds: Yes or No

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $25,770,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for local parks & recreation?  

Infrastructure Bonds: Yes or No

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $76,150,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects, including but not limited to facilities maintenance capital, facilities design and construction, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program, and other County infrastructure?

Public Schools Bonds: Yes or No

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $83,990,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for Arlington Public Schools?

Utilities Bonds: Yes or No

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $14,220,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of designing, expanding, improving, and renovating Arlington County’s Water Pollution Control Plant and the water and sewer systems serving the County?

Clarke County

U.S. Congress: District 6

Berryville Board of Supervisors

Commonwealth's Attorney

Fairfax County

U.S. Congress: District 8

U.S. Congress: District 10

U.S. Congress: District 11

Mayor

Transportation bonds: Yes or No

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the transportation improvements and facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $180,000,000 for the purpose of financing Fairfax County’s share, under the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact, of the cost of constructing, reconstructing, improving, and acquiring transportation improvements and facilities, including capital costs of land, transit facilities, rolling stock, and equipment in the Washington metropolitan area?

Public Safety bonds: Yes or No

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $126,000,000 to provide funds, in addition to funds from public safety facilities bonds previously authorized, to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of public safety facilities, including the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, renovation and equipment of civil and criminal justice facilities, police training and operational facilities and stations, fire and rescue training facilities and stations, including fire and rescue stations owned by volunteer organizations, and the acquisition of necessary land?

Fairfax City

U.S. Congress: District 11

Fairfax Council

Herndon Mayor

Herndon Council

School bonds: Yes or No

Shall the City of Fairfax, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $220,000,000 to provide funds, together with other funds, to undertake a program of capital improvement projects for the public school system of the City, and to fund the cost of issuing such bonds?

Falls Church

U.S. Congress: District 8

Council

Fauquier County

U.S. Congress: District 10

Remington Mayor

Remington Council

Warrenton Council: Ward 1

Loudoun County

U.S. Congress: District 10

Leesburg Council

Lovettsville Council (special election)

Purcellville Mayor

Purcellville Council

Public Safety Bonds: Yes or No

Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $9,669,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the design, construction, equipping and other costs of Fire and Rescue Capital Apparatus and Fire and Rescue Station #08 - Philomont Station Replacement; and the costs of other public safety projects approved in the County's Capital Improvement Program?

Parks and Rec Bonds: Yes or No

Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $53,787,000 to finance in whole or in part, the design, construction, equipping and other costs of, the Western Loudoun Recreation Complex, Dulles South Community Park, and the Westpark Improvements; and the costs of other public parks, recreational and community center projects approved in the County's Capital Improvement Program? 

School Bonds: Yes or No

Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $10,000,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the design, construction, equipping and other costs of LCPS Facility Renewals and Alterations and the costs of other public school facilities as requested by the Loudoun County School Board? 

Transportation Bonds: Yes or No

Shall the County of Loudoun, Virginia contract a debt and issue its general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum principal amount of $151,165,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the design, construction and other costs of improvements for Braddock Road / Trailhead Drive Roundabout, Braddock Road Widening - Paul VI Eastern Entrance to Loudoun County Parkway, Crosstrail Boulevard Segment C - Sycolin Road to Dulles Greenway, Dulles West Boulevard - Northstar Boulevard to Arcola Boulevard, Evergreen Mills Road / Reservoir Road / Watson Road Intersection Improvement, Lake Drive Improvements, Northstar Boulevard Widening - Tall Cedars Parkway to Braddock Road, Route 7 / Route 287 Interchange Improvements, Route 15 Widening - Whites Ferry Road to Montresor Road, Ryan Road Widening - Evergreen Mills Road to Beaverdam Drive, Sycolin Road Widening - Loudoun Center Place to Crosstrail Boulevard, and Franklin Park to Purcellville Trail; and the costs of other public road and transportation projects approved in the County's Capital Improvement Program? 

Manassas City

U.S. Congress: District 10

Mayor

Council

Page County

U.S. Congress: District 6

Prince William County

U.S. Congress: District 7

U.S. Congress: District 10

Stafford County

U.S. Congress: District 7

Winchester City

U.S. Congress: District 6

DC WARD-BY-WARD

DC Council: At-Large

DC Council: Ward 7

DC Council: Ward 8

DC Board of Education: Ward 4

DC Board of Education: Ward 7