Maryland's Special Session on Redistricting

Dear neighbor:

In recent weeks, we have received a number of inquiries into the Redistricting timeline and process in Maryland. I hope the following information is informative.

A Special Session of the Legislature has been called by the Governor for the week of October 17^th, 2011, during which time the new Congressional District maps will be considered. Due to the truncated electoral timeline this year (the Primary Election is April 3, 2012, and the General Election is November 6, 2012), this process must move expeditiously.

After an exhaustive public notice and comment period, including Redistricting Advisory Committee public hearings in every County and Baltimore City, on October 4, 2011, the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee (GRAC) submitted the Recommended Congressional Redistricting Plan to Governor, including all proposed Congressional District Maps for the State of Maryland. Pursuant to the U.S. Constitution (U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 2) and the Maryland Constitution (Maryland Constitution Article III, Section 5) the Congressional and Legislative districts must be redrawn based on the principal of one-person one-vote following the decennial Census of the United States. Due to the enormous population growth in some parts of the State, and stagnant or reduced population in other parts, all Congressional districts will have to be significantly adjusted to ensure equal population and representation in each District.

The redistricting process for the Legislative District maps (State Senate and House of Delegates districts) differs from that of the Congressional redistricting process. For Legislative Districts, the Maryland Constitution requires the Governor to present the Legislative redistricting plan to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, who must then introduce the plan as a joint resolution on the first day of the regular session in the second year following the decennial census (In this case that will be January 11, 2012). If the General Assembly has not adopted another Legislative redistricting plan by the 45th day of the session, the Governor's plan as presented becomes law.

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is the State’s repository of Reapportionment and Redistricting maps, data products, and is the designated State Agency coordinator for the Census Redistricting Data Program with the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The new maps can be examined on the internet at http://planning.maryland.gov. If you have redistricting questions or would like additional information, please contact MDP by telephone at (41 0) 767-4500.

Again, I hope that this information is helpful.