A grassroots effort to significantly expand the Baltimore County Council has failed to secure a spot on the November 5 ballot, despite a last-minute push from prominent Democratic leaders. The Vote4More campaign, spearheaded by Linda Dorsey-Walker, aimed to add four seats to the current seven-member council but fell short of the required valid signatures.

The campaign, which began in March 2022, received a surge of high-profile endorsements in its final days, including support from County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. and Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones. Proponents argued that expanding the council would increase representation for women and minorities, addressing longstanding concerns about the county’s district makeup, which some say disadvantages Black candidates in an area where they comprise 30% of the population.

Baltimore County Elections Director Ruie LaVoie confirmed that Vote4More failed to meet the 10,000 valid signature threshold. Despite submitting 10,275 signatures initially, nearly 3,000 were disqualified upon review. A subsequent submission of 1,428 signatures on the final day also fell short of state code requirements, which mandate that signees include their full names as listed on voter rolls and the date of signing.

The campaign’s failure comes as a setback to those seeking to address the county’s changing demographics. Since adopting its charter-style government in 1956, Baltimore County has tripled in population and is now nearly 50% people of color. However, the current council composition includes only one Black member, Councilman Julian Jones, alongside six white men.

This defeat contrasts with a separate, more modest expansion effort that will appear on the November ballot. Led by Council Chair Izzy Patoka, this measure asks voters to approve adding two seats to the council. This proposal, which passed the council 5-1, would also reduce the governor’s power to appoint Board of Education members, shifting some appointments to the new council members.

The failure of Vote4More and the advancement of the two-seat expansion highlight the ongoing debate about representation and governance in Baltimore County. As the region continues to evolve demographically, the question of how best to ensure equitable representation remains at the forefront of local politics.

With Vote4More’s campaign ending unsuccessfully, attention now turns to the upcoming vote on the two-seat expansion and its potential impact on the county’s political landscape. The outcome of this ballot measure will likely shape discussions about representation and governance in Baltimore County for years to come.