A Maryland judge on Wednesday issued an injunction blocking a proposed constitutional amendment regarding congressional redistricting from appearing on the state's November general election ballot. Judge Robert Thompson ruled that the language in House Bill 2100 was misleading, stating that the wording should disqualify the measure as currently written. The ruling prevents the state board of elections from including what would have been known as Question 3 on the ballot for the November 3, 2026, election.
The legal challenge followed the signing of House Bill 2100 by Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) on August 5. The bill was passed with a supermajority in the legislature but faced opposition from minority GOP lawmakers. These lawmakers argued the amendment was an attempt to bypass a 2022 court ruling that had struck down a previous redistricting plan proposed by state Democrats.
The proposed amendment sought to require congressional districts to follow "natural boundaries and the boundaries of political subdivisions." The Maryland Freedom Caucus, a conservative group, filed one of two lawsuits against the measure. State Representative Matt Morgan (R) stated that the ruling demonstrated that legislative supermajorities are not exempt from established rules. Currently, Democrats hold seven of Maryland’s eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For individual Marylanders, this decision maintains the existing redistricting process rather than implementing the new standards proposed in HB 2100. A person would notice the absence of Question 3 on their physical or electronic ballot on November 3, 2026. The shift in how districts are defined—moving toward a requirement for following political and natural boundaries—could have altered which communities are grouped together, potentially affecting which candidates appear on a resident's ballot in future congressional elections.
The ruling sets a potential precedent regarding the clarity of language required for ballot initiatives in Maryland. If the injunction holds, it prevents the legislature from using specific wording that the court deemed misleading to voters. However, the legal process is not finalized, as Judge Thompson noted the injunction is pending an immediate appeal by the state to the Supreme Court of Maryland. The higher court will ultimately determine if the question can be restored to the ballot before the 2026 general election deadline.