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In almost a month, citizens will be shuffling into the polls to cast their ballot for the President of the

United States, one of our US Senators, our members of Congress, Board of Education and other important positions. And while these are significant decisions, Marylanders and Howard Countians will also have several other important decisions which also will impact our lives. We will be called upon to vote on five local Charter Amendments and an additional seven statewide questions. As we work to promote an informed citizenry and transparent government in Howard County I would like to explore some of the details of each. On the Howard County Front: Question A discusses how public records may be accessed through the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA). It expands access to all persons while providing protection from sensitive personal information and sets a reasonable fee for publication of these documents. Question B is a fiscal matter and will permit appropriations to grant funds that have not been used by the end of the fiscal year to carry over to the next year, as opposed to going to the County Treasury. Question C centers on the minimum amount of signatures that is required for a referendum. This number hasnt changed since 19xxx. Since 19xx, the county has required petitions to receive signatures from 5% of the Countys registered voters. If approved, the Charter will set a minimum of 1,500 signatures required and a maximum of 5,000 signatures. Which is still lower than xyz jurisdictions. While our society continues to evolve into a digital era, Question D will permit notices and advertisements to be published electronically in addition to print media. This will allow for realtime information and changes to meeting dates, times and locations to be displayed immediately to the public. Question E makes several technical corrections including a reference to a Commission that no longer exists, removing an obsolete occupation from the list of factors used during Council redistricting and consolidating duplicate definitions to one section. As you can see, the range of questions we are asking Howard Countians will allow our government more efficiently. These questions were designed from a Charter Review Commission the County Council convened and is the culmination of hundreds of hours of research and numerous public hearings to gather feedback from the community. Statewide, voters will also have an opportunity to express your opinion on several matters too. Question 1 and 2 will require judges serving on both the Price Georges and Baltimore County Orphans Court to be admitted to practice law and to be a member in good standing with the Maryland Bar Association. Question 3 changes current law surrounding how an elected official may be suspended or removed from office. Under current law, an elected official is suspended from office upon conviction and removed only when the conviction becomes final and all appeals are exhausted. If this question is passed, an elected official will be suspended once found guilty and removed from office once the conviction is final or when the elected official pleads guilty or no contest. The difference between the two would permit, under the amended law, for an elected official to be removed from office if

s/he pleads guilty or no contest. Under current law, the elected official can only be removed once the conviction is final and there are no more appeals to exhaust. Question 4 is an opportunity for voters to determine whether undocumented immigrants would be eligible to pay in-state tuition at community colleges in Maryland. It establishes guidelines before individuals would qualify including: students must attend 3 years and graduate from a Maryland high school, parents must submit proof of income tax returns for those three years, individuals must apply for permanent residency and register with the selective service system, where required. If approved, these individuals would attend community colleges in Maryland and upon obtaining either 60 credits or an associates degree, they may transfer to a Maryland university. This question also provides that these individuals would not be counted as in-state students for the purpose of counting enrollment. Lastly, there is also a veteran component that extends the time honorably discharged veterans will qualify for in-state tuition. Marylanders continue to hear about redistricting and Question 5 allows residents to approve the Congressional Redistricting Plan the Maryland General Assembly passed. In particular and based upon census data, it creates the boundaries for the eight US Congressional Districts. Question 6, if passed, will create marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. Under Marylands civil marriage laws, these couples will be able to obtain a civil marriage license. It would also protect clergy from having to perform ceremonies that go against their particular religious beliefs and frees them from being required to provide benefits or services to individuals related to ceremonies that go against their particular religious belief. Lastly, Question 7 allows Marylanders to determine whether gaming should be expanded. It also permits an increase in the maximum number of video lottery operation license from 5 to 6. If approved, it would permit a new facility to operate in Prince Georges County.

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