Maryland Redistricting Referendum, Question 5 (2012)
| Maryland Question 5 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 6, 2012 | |
| Topic Redistricting measures | |
| Status | |
| Type Referendum | Origin Citizens |
Maryland Question 5, the Redistricting Referendum, was on the ballot in Maryland as a veto referendum on November 6, 2012. The measure was approved.[1]
| A "yes" vote supported the state legislature's redistricting plan for the boundaries of the state's eight U.S. Congressional Districts. |
| A "no" vote opposed the state legislature's redistricting plan for the boundaries of the state's eight U.S. Congressional Districts. |
Election results
- See also: 2012 ballot measure election results
| Maryland Question 5 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| 1,549,511 | 64.05% | |||
| No | 869,568 | 35.95% | ||
- Election results from Maryland Secretary of State
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Referendum Petition (Ch. 1 of the 2011 Special Session) Congressional Districting Plan Establishes the boundaries for the State's eight United States Congressional Districts based on recent census figures, as required by the United States Constitution. For the Referred Law Against the Referred Law[2] |
” |
Sponsors
Del. Neil C. Parrott (R-2), founder of MDPetitions.com, initiated the petition drive for the veto referendum.[3]
Arguments
- Del. Justin Ready (R-5) said, "I am proud to stand in support of this push to bring the congressional redistricting map to referendum so the people of Maryland can decide. The map, which passed in October, takes Carroll County out of its traditional pairing with Western Maryland and splits us into two congressional districts. So, Taneytown is in the same district as Ocean City and Westminster is connected to Silver Spring in a district that is shaped like the country of Thailand."[4]
Media editorials
Opposition
- The Washington Post said, "The map as currently configured allows politicians to choose their voters, rather than the other way around; it is anti-democratic in the extreme. We recommend a vote against the law; that would force Mr. O’Malley and lawmakers back to the drawing board."[5]
Background
Congressional redistricting, 2010
- See also: Redistricting in Maryland
In Maryland, the primary authority to draw both congressional and state legislative district lines rests with the state legislature. The governor submits a state legislative redistricting proposal (an advisory commission appointed by the governor assists in drafting this proposal). The state legislature may pass its own plan by joint resolution, which is not subject to gubernatorial veto. If the legislature fails to approve its own plan, the governor's plan takes effect. Congressional lines are drawn solely by the legislature and may be vetoed by the governor.[6]
On October 4, 2011, the governor's advisory redistricting commission released a proposal for new congressional districts. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) amended this plan and submitted his final proposal to the state legislature on October 15, 2011. The state legislature made further amendments and approved a final congressional map with a three-fifths majority vote. On October 20, 2011, Gov. O'Malley signed the map into law.[6]
Path to the ballot
In Maryland, the number of signatures required for a veto referendum is equal to 3 percent of the votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election.
In 2012, proponents of a veto referendum needed to collect a minimum of 55,736 valid signatures. Signatures were due on June 30, 2012.
Supporters of the Redistricting Referendum filed 65,722 signatures.[7] On July 20, 2012, the state Board of Elections announced that 59,201 signatures were valid and the referendum had been certified the ballot.[8]
See also
- Maryland 2012 ballot measures
- 2012 ballot measures
- Maryland Legislature
- Redistricting measures on the ballot
- Redistricting in Maryland
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Statewide Questions," accessed December 9, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington Post, "For Maryland Democrats, redistricting referendum forces a look in the mirror," September 30, 2012
- ↑ Westminister Patch, "Del. Ready Supports Petition to Fight Congressional Redistricting," March 28, 2012
- ↑ Washington Post, "Key ballot questions in Maryland," November 4, 2012
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 All About Redistricting, 'Maryland," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Washington Post, "Foes of Maryland’s congressional redistricting map confident the map will go to referendum," July 2, 2012
- ↑ WBAL, "Redistricting Referendum Officially On Ballot," July 20, 2012
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