This article was originally published in January 2022, yet still relevant today.
There are many systems of government in the world, but none more based in freedom and self-governance than ours in America. The responsibilities and authority of rule fall to the people, and we have the ultimate say in everything.
But we've become lax in our duties, allowing self-serving bureaucrats to seize control. That is changing with Convention of States Action, and the first step to taking back our freedom is understanding our own civic process.
We're hosting Citizen Action Day on February 2nd in Annapolis. Learn more by registering here, and buckle up Old Liners for a trip around Maryland's legislative maps.
In Maryland, a legislative district is defined as a geographical area that is represented by members in the General Assembly. These districts are fixed by the process in the Maryland Constitution and a once-per-10-year census. Each district must consist of:
Adjoining territory
Be compact in form
Of equal population
This process has been a work in progress over the past 200 years, and you can read about that history here. It wasn’t until 1972 when Marylanders ratified the statewide apportionment amendment that is used today. This amendment divides Maryland into 47 districts for the election of 47 senators and 141 delegates.
That makes 188 members of the General Assembly. Congratulations! You now know more about your political system than many voters in Maryland. Now it's time for the million-dollar question.
Why do some citizens have one delegate, and some have more?
Voters in a legislative district are represented by one senator and three delegates. The delegate representation can be divided into three single-member subdivisions or one single-member delegate district and one multi-member delegate district. Now, read that again.
For a district that is not subdivided, voters will elect three delegates to represent them. Voters who live in subdivided districts elect either one or two delegates depending on how sub-districting was done.
Lastly, there are some districts that contain more than or parts of more than two counties and delegates are elected at large by the voters of the entire district because no county or part of a county is allowed to have more than one delegate in that district.
This process is a bit complex, but basically, every district has three delegates and one senator, and some of those districts are divided up further based on population numbers.
Overwhelmed yet? If the answer is "yes," you are not alone. Go back and read it slowly. It's rather complex, but it does make sense. Remember, the revolutionaries of 1776 would have and did give up much to have a system like ours, and it's of the utmost importance for us to civically educate ourselves. Besides, we're almost done. You've made it this far.
Maryland has boundaries within each legislative district known as election districts. These are geographical election boundaries, and can be changed to reflect population shifts within the district. This ensures convenient polling places for all voters.
Local boards of elections provide current information on the “wards” and “precincts” within each legislative district. Each local board of elections is responsible for voter registration, and overall conduct of elections held in the jurisdiction. This is very important, as local communities oversee their own precincts and districts, while they are supervised by the Maryland State Board of Elections. It's all about accountability.
Maryland has a website that allows you to locate your district, precinct, and legislator/s here.
And that's it! In just a few short minutes, we've covered the basic details of Maryland's legislative districts and hopefully heightened your knowledge of how your state is organized. Now it's time to get out there and start putting that knowledge to good use.
Citizens are the very foundation of our nation, the source of governmental power. It's our responsibility to take charge and make change by contacting your state representatives.
