A new UMBC poll shows Maryland voters are heavily opposed to changing congressional district mapping rules, even as they show strong support for moving to an open primary system.
When Marylanders head to the polls to decide the fate of their congressional districts, they are poised to soundly reject a proposal to reshape the state’s political map. According to a new poll from the UMBC Institute of Politics, 53% of likely voters oppose the measure, while only 25% support it.
The ballot initiative. presented as Question 3. asks voters whether the state should eliminate requirements that congressional districts be compact and connected. By removing these constraints, state lawmakers would gain broader latitude in redrawing district lines. For many residents. the prospect of such changes triggers an immediate skepticism regarding partisan influence; as Mileah Kromer. director of the UMBC Institute of Politics. observed. most Marylanders do not support drawing lines designed to favor one party over another.
While the opposition is clear, nearly one in five voters remains undecided. Kromer attributes this uncertainty to the dense, often opaque nature of ballot language. Because the legal terminology can be difficult for the average person to decipher—especially when first encountered inside the voting booth—the final outcome remains fluid.
Outside of the upcoming ballot measures, the survey reveals a growing desire to fundamentally alter how Marylanders choose their candidates. A decisive 60% of likely voters expressed support for switching to an open primary system. where participation is not limited by party registration. Only 32% of those surveyed indicated a preference for maintaining the current system.
The appetite for this shift is fueled by a practical reality: in many Maryland races. the primary contest is more consequential than the general election. With the number of unaffiliated voters in the state now roughly equal to the number of registered Republicans. the current closed system often leaves a significant segment of the electorate on the sidelines. Although Republicans showed the lowest support for the change. their own path to statewide victory relies heavily on capturing the votes of unaffiliated citizens.
Beneath these specific policy preferences lies a broader, deeper anxiety. Survey participants identified significant systemic problems plaguing American democracy. specifically citing the influence of money in politics. a sharp decline in trust toward government institutions. and the prevalence of misinformation on social media.
The UMBC poll surveyed 776 likely voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Maryland open primaries congressional map UMBC poll elections politics voter sentiment