Governor Wes Moore Signs Bill Placing Constitutional Redistricting Standards on November Ballot

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland Governor Wes Moore formally signed legislation following an extraordinary August special session of the General Assembly, certifying a binding constitutional referendum for the November 3, 2026, general election ballot to modernize Maryland’s congressional and legislative redistricting standards.

Embedding Fair Representation into the State Constitution

The enacted statute places Constitutional Amendment Question 1 before voters, establishing mandatory constitutional standards requiring all future electoral districts to be geographically compact, respect municipal boundaries, prohibit partisan political data in map drafting, and ensure minority voting rights protections under the federal Voting Rights Act. The referendum creates an independent advisory commission to hold mandatory public hearings across Western Maryland, the Baltimore region, Prince George's County, and the Eastern Shore.

Governor Moore affirmed that democracy functions best when voters choose their representatives rather than politicians choosing their voters, urging Marylanders to participate in this democratic reform.

Voting Rights Federations and Legislative Debate

The League of Women Voters of Maryland and Common Cause praised the referendum for establishing permanent constitutional anti-gerrymandering guardrails.

Legislative minority leaders expressed support for compact district standards while advocating for fully independent citizen redistricting commissions.

Ballot Certification Date

The Maryland State Board of Elections certified Question 1 for the official November 3, 2026, general election ballot.