Maryland Changes Primary Election Date As Lawsuits Allege Unfair Districts

MARYLAND — Maryland's highest court on Tuesday ordered the state to delay its primary election by three weeks. This news comes as the courts handle ongoing lawsuits alleging that Maryland has unfair election districts.

The primary election was scheduled for Tuesday, June 28. It is now slated to take place on Tuesday, July 19.

The full order from the Court of Appeals of Maryland is posted here.

The Lawsuits

Every 10 years, Maryland redraws its election districts based on the latest Census data. State legislators must approve these maps.

The vast majority of Maryland lawmakers are Democrats. Republican opponents claim that Democrats used this advantage to illegally draw the new districts to benefit liberal candidates.

Intentionally creating an election map that benefits one party is called gerrymandering. For years, critics have said Maryland districts are gerrymandered.

About 24 percent of Maryland voters are registered as Republicans. Only one of Maryland's 10 congressmen is a Republican, however.

Challengers say this divide between the quantity of registered Republicans and the number of lawmakers representing them proves that Maryland has gerrymandered districts.

State courts are now evaluating two cases about this claim. One challenge alleges that Maryland's congressional districts favor Democrats. The other says the districts for the state government, known as the Maryland General Assembly, also benefit liberals.

The trial about the congressional boundaries started Tuesday. The General Assembly case should begin next week.

Republicans hope the courts will overturn these maps.

Other Important Dates

The deadline to file for candidacy was also pushed to Friday, April 15. Candidates can withdraw their candidacy until Monday, April 18.

Marylanders can fill a vacancy in a primary election until Wednesday, April 20. Residents can challenge a candidate's residency until Thursday, April 21.

The Maryland State Board of Elections has not yet announced how the delay will affect its primary election deadlines for voter registration and mail-in ballot requests. The new dates for mail-in, dropbox and early voting are not yet posted on its website either.

In the general election, Marylanders must register to vote or update their information by Tuesday, Oct. 18. Residents can register, check their status or view their polling place at this link.

Marylanders can also vote early from Thursday, Oct. 27 through Thursday, Nov. 3 at any early voting center in their county.

Voters can request a mail-in ballot on this website until Tuesday, Nov. 1. Those ballots must be postmarked or placed in a dropbox by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The gubernatorial general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Marylanders can vote in person that day at their assigned polling place.

Visit elections.maryland.gov for more information.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article. To learn more about the lawsuits, read the full story from the Associated Press.

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