Governor Hogan Announces Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission
Governor Larry Hogan on January 12, 2021, issued an executive order establishing—for the first time in state history—an independent Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission, which will be charged with drawing fair legislative and congressional maps for the 2022 elections. Throughout his time in office, the governor has led the charge for gerrymandering reform in Maryland and nationwide.
“This commission is the first of its kind in the long history of our state,” said Governor Hogan. “Unlike the partisan, backdoor manner in which our state’s political power brokers have conducted the state’s redistricting process, we want to make sure that this time the people of Maryland are actually the ones drawing these lines—not the politicians or the party bosses.”
The commission will have a total of nine people—three Republicans, three Democrats, and three independents—and the remaining six members will be selected from applications directly submitted by citizens. The selection of members intends to produce a commission that is independent from legislative influence, impartial, and reasonably representative of the state’s diversity and geographical, racial, and gender makeup.
The governor’s executive order charges the commission with producing fair maps for both state legislative and congressional districts that comply with a set of criteria, including:
- Complies with U.S. Constitution and Voting Rights Act of 1965
- Respects natural boundaries and geographic integrity
- Does not take into account citizens’ party affiliation
The commission will conduct regional summits to allow citizens to offer comment on the boundaries of the congressional and legislative districts, along with a listening tour prior to the drawing of the maps.