Associated Press / Capital News Service: Hogan establishes redistricting reform commission

01.26.2021 / By Darryl Kinsey Jr.
Associated Press / Capital News Service: Hogan establishes redistricting reform commission

Common Cause Maryland, a redistricting reform advocacy group, said that the commission “helps our collective efforts to ensure Maryland’s line-drawing process is open and transparent.”

BOWIE, Md. — In the latest effort to resolve a gerrymandering issue in the state, Gov. Larry Hogan, R, this month announced the formation of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Hogan’s executive order comes 18 months after the Supreme Court declared that federal courts had no jurisdiction in resolving the issue of partisan redistricting.

In a 5-4 court decision, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that the burden of adjusting the redistricting process fell on the legislative branch.

The governor said he had tried to introduce a Redistricting Reform Act five times, but none of the bills gained traction in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.

The commission would be in charge of redrawing legislative maps that have been the subject of criticism from advocates and the challenge in the Supreme Court. …

Once chosen, the commission will come up with redistricting maps with respect to population and geographical borders.

Redistricting maps are redrawn and voted on by the General Assembly after each census.

Common Cause Maryland, a redistricting reform advocacy group, said that the commission “helps our collective efforts to ensure Maryland’s line-drawing process is open and transparent.”

See More: Gerrymandering/RedistrictingGerrymandering & Representation