Annapolis, MD – Today, Common Cause Maryland warned that the redistricting plan Gov. Wes Moore intends to release risks failing its fairness criteria. The redistricting plan, which was adopted behind closed doors by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, would require approval by the General Assembly.

“The process the Redistricting Advisory Commission used to develop its plan has not ensured the full and fair representation Marylanders deserve,” said Joanne Antoine, Common Cause’s Maryland Executive Director. “From the beginning, the Redistricting Advisory Commission lacked transparency and failed to give voters meaningful opportunities to participate in this process. We urge the General Assembly to make any proposed maps easily accessible to the public and provide real opportunities for Marylanders to testify on the maps, including adequate notice of hearings and any amendments. The public deserves to be part of redistricting deliberations, and the General Assembly can and should do better.”

“Meaningful public participation is one of the six Fairness Criteria that Common Cause has set forth for any proposed mid-decade redistricting plan. Maryland’s Redistricting Advisory Commission fell short of meaningfully engaging the public, meeting to discuss and adopt maps behind closed doors without public testimony or scrutiny. A proposed redistricting plan must meet all six Fairness Criteria to pass,” said Dan Vicuña, Common Cause Senior Director of Voting and Fair Representation.  

In response to President Trump’s war on fair maps, Common Cause released its six fairness criteria to respond to the most urgent threats while protecting fair representation. Common Cause does not endorse partisan gerrymandering; however, the organization recognizes a blanket condemnation in this moment would amount to unilateral political disarmament in the face of authoritarian threats.

So far, Common Cause has evaluated California, Texas, and Missouri maps under the fairness criteria. It was involved in litigation in North Carolina for their maps, and successfully opposed mid-cycle redistricting in Indiana.

Common Cause’s Six Fairness Criteria:

1. Proportionality: Any mid-decade redistricting should be a targeted response proportional to the threat posed by mid-decade gerrymanders in other states.
2.  Public participation: Any redistricting must include meaningful public participation, whether through ballot initiatives or open public processes.
3. Racial equity: Redistricting must not further racial discrimination or dilute the political voice of Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and Pacific Islander, or other communities of color.
4. Federal reform: Leaders pursuing mid-decade redistricting must publicly endorse the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, including provisions banning mid-decade redistricting and partisan gerrymandering.
5. Endorsement of independent redistricting: Leaders pursuing mid-decade redistricting must publicly endorse fair, neutral redistricting processes, such as citizen-led independent redistricting commissions.
6. Time-limited: Any new redistricting maps must expire following the 2030 Census.

To read more about Common Cause’s fairness criteria, click here.

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