LWVMD Responds to Concerning Actions Taken by MD Redistricting Commission

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The League of Women Voters of Maryland (LWVMD) is disturbed by the recent updates coming from the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission. LWVMD, like all Marylanders, learned after the fact that the redistricting commission held a meeting on Thursday, December 18th, at which time they decided to proceed with creating a map to redistrict Maryland and eliminate the last minority-party district in the state. 

The Commission’s approach has not met the spirit or intent of open meetings and has given the public only two weeks to weigh in, most of which fall over the holidays. The Commission has demonstrated that it is more loyal to a single party’s desire to redistrict than to the people of Maryland. 

“There was no notice of today’s meeting; it was not streamed for public viewing. The Commission has not shared future meeting dates or even an outline of a process or tools for people to contribute to the development of meaningful and fair maps. While it seems like small details, it sends a clear message that says the majority party can jam through what it wants while ignoring the citizens,” said executive director Nikki Tyree. 

“The mission of the League of Women Voters is to ‘empower voters and defend democracy.’ Maryland’s elected leaders need to do the same,” said Linda Kohn, President LWVMD.