MARYLAND REDISTRICTING: Democrats are a no-show of their plans on gerrymandering of legislative and congressional districts for political gain
From Governor Larry Hogan:
Tonight marks the 34th public meeting of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. This independent commission—the first of its kind in state history—is charged with drawing fair legislative and congressional maps for the 2022 elections. None of its members are elected officials or candidates for office, and the governor has no involvement in the commission’s work.
The citizens commission has received 86 map submissions from the public, and continues to take public comment on its draft maps.
Meanwhile, the legislature’s partisan commission has issued no draft maps of any kind for public comment, and has no portal for citizens to draw their own maps. As one representative of the League of Women Voters said, “It seems rather difficult for people to comment on the basis of a blank map.”
The legislature’s commission “hopes” to produce draft maps by mid-November, around when the commission will hold its last hearing—leaving essentially no time for any meaningful public comment.
Earlier this year, legislative leaders said “it’s really essential that people have something to respond to as opposed to just showing up at a commission meeting to hear things.” But that’s exactly what they’re doing.
What are they hiding?
MECHANICS WANTED
