An Anne Arundel Circuit Court judge ruled Wednesday that Maryland cannot put a ballot question altering congressional redistricting rules before voters in November.

Maryland Democrats passed a bill during an August special session that, if approved by voters, would change language in the state and may make it easier for lawmakers to gerrymander the state’s last Republican district in their favor.

Judge Robert Thompson ruled that lawmakers violated their own deadlines for ballot measures. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a law signed by Moore that set a July 1 deadline for the secretary of state to certify summaries of all statewide ballot questions to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The decision marks a setback for Democrats in their attempt to draw an 8-0 map, and possibly capture an Eastern Shore-based seat held by Rep. Andy Harris, the state’s lone congressional Republican, since 2011.

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Maryland Republicans have filed two lawsuits challenging the ballot question.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. This is a developing story.