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Maryland
The U.S. Census Bureau counts incarcerated people where they are confined not where they are from. Using these counts to draw state and county legislative districts enhances the weight of a vote cast by people who live near prisons at the expense of everyone else in the state or county.
Pending legislation
No Representation Without Population Act, introduced in the House of Delegates by Delegate Pena-Melnyk as HB496 and in the Senate by Senator Pugh as SB400, January 29, 2010
Maryland leaders
It's impossible to include everyone who is working toward fair districting in Maryland, but if you are looking to get involved, these are some of the people and organizations you might want to contact:
- Cindy Boersma, ACLU of Maryland
Fact sheets
- Ending prison-based gerrymandering would aid the African-American vote in Maryland [PDF] by Prison Policy Initiative
- States are Authorized to Adjust Census Data to End Prison-Based Gerrymandering, and Many Already Do [PDF] by Prison Policy Initiative and Demos
Reports
- Importing Constituents: Incarcerated People and Political Clout in Maryland, by Peter Wagner and Olivia Cummings, March 4, 2010 is our district-by-district analysis of how crediting Baltimore City's incarcerated residents to remote districts distorts democracy and dilutes the votes of all voters in all other districts.
Stay informed
Sign up for our weekly newsletter about the ongoing movement to change the U.S. Census' method of counting people in prison.
Speaking engagements
- March 16, 2010: We'll be doing a briefing about prison-based gerrymandering in New York by conference call at 11am EST. Join us. More info.
- March 24, 2010: We'll be doing a National briefing about prison-based gerrymandering by conference call at 11am EST. Join us. More info.
- March 25-28, 2010: Peter Wagner will be attending the National Redistricting Seminar in Austin, Texas organized by the National Conference of State Legislatures
- April 1, 2010: Peter Wagner will be speaking about the U.S. Census, mass-incarceration and prison-based gerrymandering at Smith College, Seeyle 206 in Northampton Mass at 6:30pm.
Not near you? Invite Peter to your town.
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