Congressional districts are administrative divisions of the State of Maryland determined by the Maryland General Assembly to define an area of representation for each of Maryland's Representative in Congress.

Legislative districts are administrative divisions of the State of Maryland determined by the Maryland General Assembly to define an area of representation for the members of the General Assembly (State Senators and Delegates).

Redistricting Update

The Governor's entire 2002 Legislative Redistricting Plan (Senate and House Joint Resolutions # 3) was deemed invalid on June 11, 2002, by the Maryland Court of Appeals. These district boundaries would have been applicable for the 2002 elections for members of the General Assembly and, for purposes of representation, would have been applicable beginning with the second Wednesday of January, 2003. The Court of Appeals appointed technical consultants to assist with the development of a new plan.

Information on redistricting is available at the Maryland General Assembly's Redistricting and Reapportionment website. The Maryland Court of Appeals Legislative Ditricting Plan of 2002 is also available.

Redistricting Challenges

Under Article III, section 5 of the Maryland Constitution, following the State's adoption of a redistricting plan, a registered voter may file a petition in the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and may ask the Court to review the State's redistricting plan for compliance with the Maryland and United State's Constitutions. Fourteen petitions were filed in the Court of Appeals, raising various challenges to the State's redistricting plan based upon the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the requirements for legislative districts set forth in Article III, section 4 of the Maryland Constitution, and the federal Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. section 1973.

Two cases have also been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland challenging the State's redistricting plan based on the Voting Rights Act and the United States Constitution. One case is currently scheduled for trial in mid-July, and no schedule has yet been determined for the other.

District Maps

New maps

You can search the legislative district maps for the June 21, 2002 Court of Appeals' redistricting Order at the Maryland Department of Planning website.

Old maps

Congressional and legislative district maps for members of the Congress and the Maryland General Assembly currently in office are still available from the Maryland State Archives:

• congressional districts
• legislative districts