Residents will soon start heading to the polls in Montgomery County, voting on state- and county-level candidates. Three ballot questions will also be up for a vote. (Gaby Arancibia/Patch)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Election Day is Nov. 3, and residents will be voting for candidates running in local, state and congressional races.
Maryland's race for governor and lieutenant governor pits incumbents Wes Moore and Aruna Miller against Republicans Dan Cox and Rob Krop.
Also in contention for the state's top post are Green Party candidates Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews and Working Class Party team Cathy White and Cathy Permut.
In the Maryland General Assembly, dozens of House of Delegates and Senate seats are up for grabs in the 2026 election cycle.
County-wise, voters will have the chance to make selections for the Board of Education's at-large post and 1st, 3rd and 5th district seats in addition to every district's council member post.
The outcome of the races will heavily impact critical decision-making on the county's budgetary, housing, transportation and school policies.
Same-day registration will be available to residents during the early voting period — Oct. 22 through Oct. 29 — and on Election Day. However, voters must provide documentation that confirms both their identity and address.
Permissible documents include a valid Maryland driver's license, learner's permit, or state ID card. A change-of-address card, paycheck, bank statement, or utility bill can also prove residency.
To vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party primaries, residents must be registered with that party. Adjustments to party affiliation cannot be made past the Oct. 13 deadline.
Come Election Day, residents must vote at their assigned polling place. Otherwise, they must vote by provisional ballot, according to the Board of Elections.
Democrat Councilmember Will Jawando and Republican Esther Wells are competing for the county executive post. Wells previously ran to represent the 1st District on the Montgomery County school board in the 2022 election.
The two candidates were whittled down from seven candidates: five Democrats and two Republicans.
The county executive post the pair are challenging oversees the daily administration of county departments and submits proposals for the county budget.
The current County Executive is Marc Elrich (Democrat), who is running to serve as an at-large member of the County Council.
County Council At-Large Candidates
One of the most contested races this election cycle was for the County Council at-large post, which saw 18 candidates vie for the four-year seat.
After the primary, however, just five candidates advanced to the November election. Only four candidates can be proclaimed winners.
The at-large position is responsible for voting on the county's operating budget, introducing and passing legislation and providing oversight on multiple departments.
To view a full list of candidates in Montgomery County at the local level, click here.
* indicates candidates who returned Patch's questionnaire
What Are The Ballot Questions?
This election season, in addition to voting for candidates, voters will also face three ballot questions.
The ballot topics are state budget funding, temporary judicial appointments, and the controversial redistricting measure that nearly didn't make the cut.
Questions that will be on the November ballot are below:
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026: Providing that each budget submitted by the Governor shall include proposed expenditures necessary to implement wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment in each collective bargaining memorandum of understanding with State employees, whether the State and State employees reached those terms and conditions by mutual agreement or through a neutral decider's order.
For the Constitutional Amendment -A vote FOR this amendment means that the Governor has to include money in the proposed State budget to pay for agreements between the State and its employees. Agreements might include changes to wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Governor must put enough money in the State budget to cover the agreed upon pay and benefits for employees, whether those terms were negotiated or decided by a neutral decision-maker.
Against the Constitutional Amendment - A vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same.
Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities: Authorizing temporary substitute appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities when a member is recused or disqualified, or when a member's term expires. In these situations, the Commission Chair may recall a former member of the Commission, or the Governor, at the request of the Commission Chair, may appoint a temporary substitute member or extend the term of a current member until a permanent replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission.
For the Constitutional Amendment - A vote FOR this amendment means that temporary appointments to the Commission are allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends without a replacement. The Commission Chair can temporarily fill an opening on the Commission with a former member. The Governor can, at the request of the Commission Chair pick a temporary substitute to fill an opening on the Commission or extend the term of a current member until a replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission.
Against the Constitutional Amendment - A vote AGAINST the amendment means that current membership rules for the Commission stay the same. Temporary appointments are not allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends.
Electoral Districts – General Assembly and Congressional Representatives: For the purpose of clarifying that certain requirements apply only to districts for the election of members of the Senate of Maryland and the House of Delegates; authorizing the General Assembly to grant original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of Maryland to review the congressional districting plan of the State; and providing that nothing in the Maryland Constitution provides applicable criteria for the boundaries of a congressional districting plan.
For the Constitutional Amendment
Against the Constitutional Amendment
Dates To Keep In Mind
Early voting: Oct. 22 through Oct. 29 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Election Day: Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To receive mail-in ballots by mail or fax, file a request by Oct. 27.
There are 14 early voting centers across the county, each with a drop box for mail-in ballots.
Residents can submit mail-in ballots at more than 50 drop-off locations. A detailed list and map of all sites can be found online.
Voting centers will be at the following 14 locations:
Activity Center at Bohrer Park 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg Parking: Free on-site
Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville Parking: Free on-site
Damascus Community Recreation Center 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus Parking: Free on-site
Germantown Community Recreation Center 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown Parking: Free on-site
Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase Parking: Free on-site; street parking restrictions suspended on Willow, Elm, and 44th Streets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville Parking: Free on-site
Mid-County Community Recreation Center 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring Parking: Free on-site
Isiah "Ike" Leggett Executive Office Building 101 Monroe St., Rockville Parking: One hour free at East Jefferson & Monroe Street garage with an "I Voted/Yo Voté" sticker; metered street parking available
Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center 13850 Travilah Road, Rockville Parking: Free on-site
Potomac Community Recreation Center 11315 Falls Road, Potomac Parking: Free on-site
Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department 17921 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring Parking: Free on-site
Silver Spring Civic Building 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring Parking: Public garage or metered street parking; free on Sundays
Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton Parking: Free on-site
White Oak Community Recreation Center 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring Parking: Free on-site
For full coverage of the 2026 election in Maryland, go here.