Maryland redistricting ballot question faces ruling as ballot deadlines near

Maryland voters still may not know whether a proposed constitutional amendment on congressional redistricting will appear on the November 3 ballot as a second lawsuit reaches a decision expected Friday, August 28.

The Dorchester County case follows an August 26 ruling in Anne Arundel County that ordered Question 3 kept off the ballot. The effect of that order was paused to allow an appeal, leaving the measure’s status unsettled as election officials approach the August 31 deadline to certify general-election ballots.

Anne Arundel ruling is paused during appeal

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Robert Thompson ruled that Question 3 could not appear on the general-election ballot. The Associated Press reported that Thompson found lawmakers had violated a statutory deadline for ballot measures.

Thompson also ruled against challenges alleging that the ballot wording was misleading and that the amendment improperly combined multiple subjects. Those are findings in the trial-court ruling and remain subject to appellate review; they are not a final statewide resolution.

The judge paused the effect of the order while the state appeals. The state filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Maryland, according to AP.

Dorchester case adds a second ruling

A separate lawsuit was argued Thursday, August 27, in Dorchester County Circuit Court. WBAL reported that the plaintiffs include lawmakers from Maryland’s 1st Congressional District, including Del. Chris Adams, and a member of the Dorchester County Republican Central Committee.

Judge S. James Sarbanes indicated that he could issue a decision Friday. As of Friday morning, the supplied reporting confirmed that a decision was expected but did not establish that a written ruling or appeal had been filed. The procedural effect will depend on the court’s order and any subsequent appellate action.

What Question 3 would change

The State Board of Elections lists Question 3 as a proposed constitutional amendment titled “Election Districts.” Its official summary says the measure would clarify that certain compactness and natural-boundary standards in the Maryland Constitution apply only to districts used to elect members of the General Assembly.

The amendment also would authorize the General Assembly to grant original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of Maryland to review the state’s congressional districting plan. It would provide that the criteria for congressional-district boundaries are determined by applicable federal law.

Chapter 881, the General Assembly’s enabling law, says the amendment is to be submitted to Maryland voters at the November 2026 general election. It would not itself redraw Maryland’s congressional districts or immediately replace the current map.

Supporters and opponents have disputed the amendment’s potential political consequences, including whether it could facilitate a future effort to redraw districts. Those claims concern possible effects and motivations; they are not an adjudicated conclusion about the measure’s purpose.

The election calendar is tightening

Maryland’s official 2026 election calendar sets Monday, August 31, as the deadline for the State Board of Elections to prepare and certify the content and arrangement of general-election ballots, including ballot questions, and publish the certified ballots on its website.

The calendar separately sets Wednesday, September 2, as the deadline for a registered voter to seek judicial review of ballot content or arrangement or to seek correction of another ballot error. It says the State Board may begin printing ballots Thursday, September 3.

The November 3 general election remains the scheduled election date.

The Supreme Court of Maryland’s website says the court will hear in-person oral arguments beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, September 3. The public page confirms the session date, but the case-specific listing and any expedited order should be checked against the court docket before treating that session as the next decisive step in the Anne Arundel appeal.

What Maryland voters should watch

Three procedural questions remain central: whether the Dorchester court will issue an order affecting Question 3, whether either trial-court ruling will be appealed or modified, and what the Supreme Court and election officials do before ballot materials are finalized.

Voters should rely on the State Board of Elections’ certified ballot postings and subsequent court or election-board notices for the final status. The immediate milestones are the expected Dorchester ruling on August 28, ballot certification on August 31, the September 2 judicial-review deadline and the possible start of ballot printing on September 3.

Sources

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