Circuit court judges are nominated by the two principal political parties during the primary election.

Because Maryland holds closed primaries, in which only members of a particular political party may vote for that party’s candidates for nomination, candidates for circuit court judge register their candidacies with both parties so as to appear on the ballots of both principal political parties during the primary.

The practice of “cross-filing” candidacies dates back to 1941. The candidates who receive the majority of votes in each of the primaries move on to the general election ballot, where their names appear without any indication of their party affiliation, along with the names of any petition candidates and nonprincipal political party candidates who have received their party’s nomination.

In Maryland, circuit court judicial candidates run in a “contested” election, in which any challenger who meets the constitutional requirements may run. You might think these constitutional requirements refer to legal experience, but they do not. The Maryland Constitution only requires challengers to be a U.S. citizen, registered to vote in MD, a MD resident for 5 years, an Anne Arundel County resident for 6 months, and a member of the Maryland Bar.

This means any lawyer, even one with minimal legal experience, can run for circuit court judge.

If we aren't careful, Anne Arundel County voters could elect an amateur to serve on the circuit court bench. The best and only way to ensure this does not happen is to elect imminently qualified and experienced jurists on Election Day. 

That's why Judges Celeste and Jackson-Stevenson are running to keep their seats on the circuit court bench. 

Judges Celeste, Jackson-Stevenson, and Wachs will be on the Maryland Primary Ballot in the May 14th, 2024 election. 

• You can either vote in person during early voting, or on Election Day or by mail-in ballot.
• Early voting starts on Thursday, May 2, 2024 and goes through Thursday, May 9, 2024. Each early voting center will be open continuously from 7 am to 8 pm each day. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.
• On election day, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, you must vote at your assigned polling place.All election day polling places are open continuously from 7 am until 8 pm on. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.

If you are unable to vote during early voting or on election day, you may vote by mail-in ballot. Find out more information about mail-in voting.

Important Note: The law requires the State Board of Elections and each local board of elections to refer to absentee ballots as "mail-in ballots" and absentee voting as "mail-in voting." Please note that this change in terminology does NOT change the process of mail-in voting.

For the 2024 Presidential Primary Election:

• During early voting, you can vote at any early voting center in the jurisdiction where you live.
• On election day, you must vote at your assigned polling place.

For the 2024 Presidential Primary Election:

• During early voting or on election day, you will hand mark a paper ballot. Use the pen provided to fill in the oval next to your choices. You can also mark your ballot electronically. Review your ballot choices, place your voted ballot into the privacy sleeve and take it to the scanner. An election worker will direct you to insert your ballot into the scanning unit to cast your vote. Your ballot will be scanned and dropped into a secure ballot box.
• There will be instructions available at the early voting centers and election day polling places to familiarize you with the ballot. You may ask an election judge to explain how to vote, but you must cast your vote alone, unless you are unable to do so because you have a disability or are unable to read or write the English language.
• For mail-in voting and provisional voting, you will issued a paper ballot. Use a black ink pen to fill in the oval next to your choices. Provisional ballots are returned to the local election office in secure bags on election night. Mail-in and provisional ballots will be scanned at the local election office.