Maryland Justices Overturn Block on Redistricting Ballot Question

The Maryland Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision to remove a redistricting referendum from the November ballot, allowing voters to consider a constitutional amendment. The measure would grant the state's highest court original jurisdiction to review congressional redistricting plans, a move Democrats argue could help them win all eight House seats. The court also ordered the ballot language to be rewritten for clarity, and Governor Wes Moore hailed the ruling as a victory for democratic control over map-drawing.

The ruling stems from a 2022 court decision that struck down a Democratic-drawn congressional map, which had established strict redistricting criteria. The proposed amendment would clarify those criteria apply only to state Assembly districts, not congressional boundaries, potentially enabling Democrats to pursue more favorable federal maps. The measure cleared the legislature with more than three-fifths support in both chambers before Moore signed it.

The court's majority agreed with lower courts that the original ballot language was misleading and ordered a rewrite. Dissenting justices argued the revised wording still obscures that the amendment removes protections tied to Maryland's Declaration of Rights. Republican leaders expressed disappointment but signaled confidence in defeating the measure at the polls in November.