The redistricting ballot measures 2026 in Missouri and Maryland could reshape the congressional map for 2028, even though voters are also deciding this year’s House races on Tuesday. Both measures arise from the redistricting fight that began in 2025, when President Donald Trump led a Republican push to draw new maps in several states aimed at turning Democratic-held seats into Republican-leaning districts, according to Reuters. In Missouri, residents will vote on a Republican-drawn map that would break up the state’s only Democratic-leaning seat. Courts ruled the map can only take effect with voter approval, which is why it is on the ballot rather than already in force. Supporters of the map argue it reflects the state’s overall Republican lean; opponents say it dilutes Democratic voters by splitting a seat they currently hold.
Maryland’s counter-move
In Maryland, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to make it easier for lawmakers to draw new congressional districts. Approval would open the door for the Democratic-controlled legislature to eliminate the state’s only Republican-leaning seat in 2028, according to Reuters. That would be a Democratic counter to Republican map gains elsewhere, and it illustrates how redistricting has become a tit-for-tat contest between parties in states they control. The two measures are part of a broader fight that is likely to extend to 2028, Reuters reported. Because the House majority is narrow — Republicans entered Election Day with a lead of only a few seats — even one or two seats gained or lost through redistricting can matter for control in the next cycle.
Voting rules also on the ballot
Beyond maps, voters in California, Colorado and Nevada are deciding whether to require the last four digits of a government identification number when voting by mail, according to Reuters. Those measures, if passed, would change how mail ballots are verified in states where mail voting is widely used. Supporters say the requirement strengthens verification; opponents say it risks rejecting legitimate ballots over paperwork errors. Together, the redistricting and voting measures show how much of Tuesday’s ballot is about the rules of future elections, not just the candidates in this one. Their results will be studied by both parties as they plan maps and turnout strategies for 2028.
