Congressional Boundaries Will Be Put to a Vote

, supporters of a new congressional redistricting map were able to gain the 55,736 they needed they put the issue up to vote on the November ballot.

Leading the charge was Delegate Nicholaus Kipke (R-31st District), from Pasadena, who said he was very pleased that people in Maryland have stepped up to battle a map he calls “gerrymandering.”

“It is encouraging to see that people are sort of fed up with the direction of Maryland government and they are willing to do more than just complain about it,” Kipke said.

Playing the largest role in getting the referendum on the ballot were Anne Arundel County residents themselves. According to Maryland's State Board of Elections, in total, 12,179 signatures from the county were approved.

“In the end it turned out Anne Arundel County had the largest results of any county in the state,” Kipke told Patch.

In order to have the issue put on the ballot, they needed 55,736 signatures by July 1. On June 27, Kipke and other supporters and made broadcasted phone calls to get the last-minute signatures they needed.

“What happens next is it will end up on the November ballot and voters in Maryland will have the opportunity to decide if they want to keep a gerrymandered map that cuts the state up in slivers or send it back to legislators,” Kipke said. “It sends a strong message to delegates and senators that voters in Maryland expect better.”

The wording for the referendum, exactly what you will read on the ballot when you vote, will be announced on Aug. 20.

Kipke said the current map, outlined by Gov. Martin O’Malley, —given the small areas of the county it encompasses.

If the new map were to be approved, Kipke said Anne Arundel County would have a second opportunity to lobby for a congressional district that encompasses a large portion of the county. Kipke said every area in the state needs a congressman with a direct responsibility to them.

“Anne Arundel County was cut up the worst out of any jurisdiction in the state,” he said. “Hopefully a new map will at least allow larger areas of the county to be represented instead of strips.”

Kipke added that because they were able to gain the necessary number of signatures, it shows people in Maryland are getting more involved in their government, which he believes is a good thing.

“In a broader sense, voters in Maryland and the country are more involved in politics now than before, and I think that is because there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the outcomes in DC and Annapolis,” Kipke said. “So this referendum process is a way for voters to find tangible ways to influence issues.”

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