Public Hearing: Proposed Changes to Elections Code, Voting Age, Term Limits, Minimum Age to Serve

Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and Council of Rockville will conduct four public hearings on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 and Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at 7 p.m., or as soon thereafter as they may be heard. The hearings will be held in the Mayor and Council chambers, Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850 regarding the following proposed amendments to the Rockville City Code and Charter:

Elections Code Amendments Amendments to Chapter 8 of the Rockville City Code, titled “Elections,” would update definitions, campaign finance and enforcement provisions; establish the powers and duties of the Board of Supervisors of Elections; enable 16- and 17-year-olds to register and vote; enact term limits; implement new state requirements; and make additional modifications to improve the administration of the chapter. Minimum Voting Age for City Elections An amendment to Article III, Section 1 of the Rockville City Charter would reduce the minimum voting age for municipal elections to 16 years of age. Term Limits for Mayor and Council An amendment to Article III, Section 4 of the Rockville City Charter would establish a term limit of no more than four consecutive four-year terms for members of the Mayor and Council. Minimum Age for Mayor and Council An amendment to Article II, Section 1b of the Rockville City Charter would require members of the Mayor and Council to be at least 18 years of age.

The proposed charter amendments are being considered pursuant to state and city law, including Article XI-E of the Maryland Constitution, Sections 4-303 and 4-304 of the Local Government Article, and Article V of the Charter of the City of Rockville. For more detailed information on the proposed legislation, contact the Office of the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations at [email protected] or 240-314-8280. Mayor and Council meetings are broadcast live on Rockville 11 (channel 11 on county cable systems), livestreamed at rockvillemd.gov/rockville11, and are available a day after each meeting at rockvillemd.gov/videoondemand. Community members are also welcome to watch meetings live in the Mayor and Council chambers at Rockville City Hall. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please complete the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

Speak in Person at a Public Hearing To participate in a public hearing in person during the live Mayor and Council meeting, complete the Public Hearing Participation Form, or call the Office of the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations at 240-314-8280, by 10 a.m. on the day of the hearing. In-person participants may also sign up using the form at the entrance to the Mayor and Council chambers. In-person participants will be called upon to speak before virtual participants in the order they signed up. In-person participants who may need assistance with translation for a language other than English should complete the Public Hearing Participation Form or call the Office of the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations at 240-314-8280, at least 3 business days prior to the meeting date (by the Wednesday before the Monday meeting).

Speak Virtually at a Public Hearing To participate in a public hearing virtually via computer, mobile device, or phone during the live Mayor and Council meeting, complete the Public Hearing Participation Form, or call the Office of the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations at 240-314-8280, by 10 a.m. on the day of the hearing. Virtual participants should join the meeting no later than 20 minutes before the meeting start time (by 6:10 p.m. for the usual meeting start time of 6:30 p.m.). Virtual participants will be contacted on the day of the meeting via email by the Office of the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations to receive all the information needed to join the meeting by audio to share your comments. Read meeting tips and instructions for joining a Webex meeting by computer, mobile device, or phone, and conduct a Webex test to ensure Webex will work on your device.

Submit Written Testimony for a Public Hearing To participate in a public hearing via written testimony, complete the Public Hearing Participation Form, or mail your comments to the Office of the City Clerk/Director of Council Operations, Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850, by 10 a.m. on the day of the hearing. Written comments received by 10 a.m. on the day of the hearing will be acknowledged by the Mayor and Council at the meeting and added to the agenda for public viewing at rockvillemd.gov/meetings. Written comments received after 10 a.m. on the date of the hearing will not be available to the Mayor and Council at the meeting but will be provided to the Mayor and Council at a later date.

Mayor and Council of Rockville By: Sara Taylor-Ferrell, City Clerk/Director of Council Operations