Copyright Baltimore Sun
Annapolis is gearing up for an election Nov. 4 that will determine the future of the city, as two-term Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat, leaves office. Here’s your guide on how to vote, what’s on the ballot and when Annapolis residents can expect results. At least half of the eight-member City Council will be new faces, and every ward’s alderman is up for election. Democrat Jared Littmann, a former alderman and current hardware store owner, is running against Republican Robert O’Shea, a business consultant, to be the next mayor. Every voter will be able to cast a ballot for mayor and their ward’s alderman to represent them on the City Council. Annapolis voter guide: 2025 mayor and City Council races How to request a mail-in ballot The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 31. To request one, registered Annapolis voters can turn in the mail-in ballot request form sent ahead of the September primary, which is also available on the city website, by mail or in person to the City of Annapolis Board of Supervisors of Elections Office in person at city hall or by mail at P.O. Box 788, Annapolis MD 21404. The city will not be sending additional mail-in ballot request forms to registered voters ahead of the general election. Voters who requested a mail-in ballot ahead of the September primary will receive a mail-in ballot for the general election. Requesting a mail-in ballot for a past state or presidential election, or being on the state’s list of regular absentee voters, does not mean a ballot will be sent in city elections. The deadline to register to vote for the general election was Oct. 6. Voting in person In-person polling locations will be open in each ward from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 4. Voters must go to the polling location in their ward to vote in person but can drop mail-in ballots at any ward’s polling location. There are new ward boundaries effective this city election; voters can check their ward through an interactive map on the city website. There are no in-person early voting locations. Election results In-person votes will be counted on election night in Annapolis City Hall and released as unofficial vote tallies soon after polls close. The results will not include any mailed ballots, ballots placed in drop boxes or provisional ballots. The official election canvass will begin Nov. 6 at the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections, which will count the ballots placed in drop boxes, received mailed ballots, and provisional ballots. These results will be posted once the count is completed, according to a city news release. Mail-in ballots received by 10 a.m. Nov. 12, and postmarked by Election Day, will be counted as part of the final vote certification Nov. 12. Who are the candidates? Half of the city’s eight aldermen are not running for reelection, and the current mayor has reached his term limit, leaving five races with no incumbent running. Two wards will have only one candidate on their ballot for alderman, Wards 4 and 7. These candidates need one vote in the general election to win. To learn more about each candidate, view the Capital Gazette’s voter guide online. Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com.
