The Maryland Supreme Court has decided to keep a Democrat-led redistricting referendum on the ballot for the November election, although with revised wording. This decision overturns a previous ruling by a lower court that had aimed to block the proposed ballot question. The ruling is a significant moment for the Democratic Party, which is trying to improve its chances of winning back House seats in the upcoming fall elections. If approved, the proposed constitutional amendment would allow the Maryland General Assembly to give the state’s highest court the power to review congressional redistricting plans. Democrats, who control the General Assembly, support this measure, which could help them secure all eight of Maryland’s House seats. The amendment also clarifies that the strict redistricting rules, which came from a 2022 court decision that struck down a 2021 map, apply only to state Assembly districts, not to congressional maps. The proposal passed the Maryland Legislature last month and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore (D) shortly after. The court noted that the amendment received the support of more than three-fifths of all elected members in both houses of the General Assembly. The justices agreed with two lower court decisions that found the original wording of the amendment was confusing and ordered the ballot language to be rewritten for clarity. Governor Moore called the decision a “massive victory” in a statement released Thursday evening. He said the court had “rightfully reversed the lower court decisions,” ensuring the amendment will appear on the general election ballot in November. Moore emphasized that the decision supports his belief that voters, not politicians, should have the final say on redistricting. He urged Maryland voters to support the measure in November, aiming to “protect our democracy, ensure fair representation, and show the rest of the country that in Maryland, we do not surrender.” In a dissenting opinion, Maryland Supreme Court Justice Steven Gould argued that he would have removed the question from the ballot, stating it was not the high court’s role to rewrite the question for the General Assembly. His dissent was supported by Justice Glenn Harrell. Gould claimed that the revised ballot question is still misleading, as it omits the guarantees of the Declaration of Rights—the collection of rights that protect Marylanders from government overreach. Nicole Beus Harris, the chair of the Maryland Republican Party, expressed disappointment with the ruling in a social media statement. She said the state GOP leaders are “deeply disappointed” by the decision but remain confident in their ability to defeat the amendment at the ballot box in November.