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Maryland redistricting amendment process

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-08 19:03 UTC → 2026-08-19 20:19 UTC · added removed

In early July August 2026, Maryland officials announced convened a special legislative session for August 3–5 to consider a constitutional amendment that would shift authority over congressional redistricting to voters. The amendment requires a measure, House Bill 2100, passed the General Assembly with the required three-fifths vote majority in both chambers and, if passed, would appear on the November 3 ballot. During the August 3 session, the House approved the measure 96–38. On August 5, chambers. Governor Wes Moore signed House Bill 2100, formally adopting held a signing ceremony for the amendment. The proposal bill, which would separate place a question on the November 3 ballot to clarify that constitutional criteria used for congressional districts from those used standards for state legislative districts, allowing congressional maps to ignore certain compactness and natural-boundary constraints. It would also grant natural boundaries do not apply to congressional districts. Supporters, including Senate President Bill Ferguson IV, argue the Maryland Supreme Court original jurisdiction over amendment provides clarity for future redistricting disputes. following legal shifts regarding the Voting Rights Act. Conversely, Republican leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. and Rep. Andy Harris, have warned characterized the change could move as a partisan attempt to gain advantage and potentially eliminate the state’s lone Republican congressional seat on the Eastern Shore. The amendment faces multiple legal challenges. In response, Republican lawmakers and conservative advocacy groups filed a lawsuit in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Court, the Maryland Freedom Caucus and the Oversight Project filed lawsuits to block the amendment measure from appearing on the November 3 ballot. The plaintiffs argue Plaintiffs contend the amendment violates state election laws, specifically contending arguing that the Secretary of State missed a July 1 deadline for certifying ballot-question information. The lawsuit They further challenges challenge the inclusion of language in HB2100 intended to bypass these statutory requirements by stating the question should be submitted "notwithstanding “notwithstanding any other provision of law." law,” arguing such language cannot override statutory requirements. Additional legal challenges have been filed in Dorchester County alleging violations of the state constitution.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-19 20:19 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process
  2. 2026-08-08 19:03 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process
  3. 2026-08-07 17:32 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process
  4. 2026-08-06 13:04 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process
  5. 2026-08-04 22:01 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process
  6. 2026-08-03 05:13 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process
  7. 2026-07-31 22:41 UTC Maryland redistricting amendment process

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