Ballot Measures

By the time the polls closed Tuesday, Maryland voters had done something unprecedented — twice. They narrowly approved one ballot measure allowing same-sex marriage and gave broad approval to another that extends in-state college tuition rates to some illegal immigrants. No similar measures — in which majorities conferred rights on minorities — had ever been enacted by a public vote in any state. The fact that both happened on a single ballot not only revealed a lot about the electorate in...

Several leading Maryland lawmakers, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), have said that they expect voters to have the final word on whether the state repeals the death penalty. But it remains an open question whether the repeal bill sponsored by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) could be petitioned to referendum if it passes the legislature. The Maryland Constitution allows citizens to petition just-passed laws to the ballot if they collect enough signatures.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) urged support for ballot measures on expanded gambling and same-sex marriage in back-to-back news conferences Monday morning in Baltimore, underscoring how much he has at stake on Election Day. O'Malley, who is scheduled to appear later Monday at a rally in College Park for the state's same-sex marriage measure, has also cut a new ad for the campaign to pass Maryland's version of the Dream Act, which would...

Coming off some high-profile victories on last month's ballot in Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley's clout could hardly be higher heading into the coming legislative session. The question is: Will he use it? After hard-fought successes on issues that included same-sex marriage and immigrant tuition rates, liberal allies are pushing O'Malley (D) to try to build on the momentum by making renewed pushes — with the same level of passion — on several of his bills that have fallen short in the past.

A late infusion of cash from proponents of expanded gambling in Maryland has pushed the total tab for the campaign over Question 7 to more than $90 million. MGM Resorts, the company angling to build a Las Vegas-style casino at National Harbor , in recent days poured another $11 million into the primary ballot-issue committee fighting for passage of Question 7. That brings MGM's total outlay to $40.8 million, according to a disclosure form made public Monday, the day before the election.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's semi-retired Celtic rock band, which seems to be surfacing quite a bit lately, is booked Saturday at an event promoting early voting. O'Malley's March is scheduled to play at an Irish bar in Silver Spring at the "Early Voting Bash," an event hosted by the Montgomery County Young Democrats and a slew of other political organizations, including Obama for America, the president's campaign committee. Saturday marks the first day of early voting in Maryland , which runs through Nov....

After mingling for about 20 minutes at the bar, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley made his way to a table near the back of the dining room at Casa Lever, a trendy Italian restaurant on Manhattan's Park Avenue adorned by Andy Warhol prints. Over ravioli and red wine, O'Malley (D) made his pitch for help to actor Josh Charles, a Baltimore native, and Charles's friend Brian Ellner, who had run a costly campaign to build public support for same-sex marriage legislation in New York last year.

CALIFORNIA Californians will get the chance to decide what happens to their tax dollars in a special election this week, but regardless of whether the electorate registers approval -- or even shows up to vote -- it will not reduce the state's budget deficit very much. Lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) arranged Tuesday's special election on six ballot measures in February, when they agreed to a budget intended to close a $42 billion deficit through the middle of next year.

National polls show increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage. Proponents have prevailed in court and recent state legislative battles. Still, a stubborn fact remains: When the issue has gone before voters — as it will on Tuesday in North Carolina and this fall in as many as four other states, including Maryland — gay rights activists have never won. Since 1998, voters have gone to the polls 31 times to have their say on statewide ballot...

When David Copperfield calls at dinnertime to talk about local school funding, you learn that some ballot measures are sexier than other ballot measures. When Melissa Etheridge offers a chance to come hang backstage , it's clear: We're not talking about bond issues here. Most years in Maryland, getting voters excited — or at least dimly aware — of those obscure policy choices they will find at the bottom of the ballot amounts to little more than yard signs and mailers extolling...

On Nov. 6, the world changed for millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in this country, as three states endorsed marriage equality for same-sex couples and a fourth rejected a constitutional ban on gay marriage . This had never happened before. In fact, 30 out of 30 previous ballot measures had gone against supporters of LGBT equality. As a Marylander, I was thrilled when Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act in March.

After mingling for about 20 minutes at the bar, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley made his way to a table near the back of the dining room at Casa Lever, a trendy Italian restaurant on Manhattan's Park Avenue adorned by Andy Warhol prints. Over ravioli and red wine, O'Malley (D) made his pitch for help to actor Josh Charles, a Baltimore native, and Charles's friend Brian Ellner, who had run a costly campaign to build public support for same-sex marriage legislation in New York last year.

By the time the polls closed Tuesday, Maryland voters had done something unprecedented — twice. They narrowly approved one ballot measure allowing same-sex marriage and gave broad approval to another that extends in-state college tuition rates to some illegal immigrants. No similar measures — in which majorities conferred rights on minorities — had ever been enacted by a public vote in any state. The fact that both happened on a single ballot not only revealed a lot about the...

Gay marriage Did Maryland voters approve gay marriage? YES Did Maine voters approve gay marriage? YES Did Minnesota voters ban gay marriage? NO Did Washington state voters approve gay marriage? YES Marijuana Did Arkansas voters approve medical marijuana? NO Did Colorado voters approve state-regulated marijuana sales and consumption? YES Did Massachusetts voters approve medical marijuana? YES Did Oregon voters approve state-regulated...

District voters overwhelmingly approved charter amendments that would allow the council to expel a council member for "gross misconduct" and would require the mayor or a council member to resign immediately if convicted of a felony. The three charter amendment measures came after a tumultuous year in local politics, with federal investigations of D.C. Council members and the 2010 campaign of Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) leading to resignations, guilty pleas and prison time. The two ballot...

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) urged support for ballot measures on expanded gambling and same-sex marriage in back-to-back news conferences Monday morning in Baltimore, underscoring how much he has at stake on Election Day. O'Malley, who is scheduled to appear later Monday at a rally in College Park for the state's same-sex marriage measure, has also cut a new ad for the campaign to pass Maryland's version of the Dream Act, which would...

Several leading Maryland lawmakers, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), have said that they expect voters to have the final word on whether the state repeals the death penalty. But it remains an open question whether the repeal bill sponsored by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) could be petitioned to referendum if it passes the legislature. The Maryland Constitution allows citizens to petition just-passed laws to the ballot if they collect enough signatures.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley began last year at the nadir of his popularity, having just raised taxes. At year's end, he was weighing deep budget cuts likely to strain relations with key constituencies. But along the way, O'Malley managed to rack up several political victories, in Maryland and beyond its borders, that appear to strengthen his hand heading into a widely expected reelection bid next year. By substantial margins, Maryland voters approved two ballot measures in November backed by the...

A late infusion of cash from proponents of expanded gambling in Maryland has pushed the total tab for the campaign over Question 7 to more than $90 million. MGM Resorts, the company angling to build a Las Vegas-style casino at National Harbor , in recent days poured another $11 million into the primary ballot-issue committee fighting for passage of Question 7. That brings MGM's total outlay to $40.8 million, according to a disclosure form made public Monday, the day before the election.

The effort by a nonpartisan group hoping to coincide Manassas elections with the national ballot has come under attack in recent days, as the city's Republican Party is seeking to defeat the proposal. Organizers for Manassas Votes and Yes for November want the city's local elections to be in November , when the majority of voters are tuned in. Municipal races are in May, typically drawing about 10 percent of registered voters. Voters will decide on the measure Tuesday. ...