A group of lawmakers and advocates gathered in Harrisburg on Tuesday to support two important bills aimed at improving election fairness in Pennsylvania. These bills focus on ending gerrymandering and ensuring fair redistricting. They want to amend the state’s constitution to create an independent redistricting commission, which would help draw district boundaries in a fairer way, free from political influence.
The lawmakers behind the effort include State Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware), State Representative Steve Samuelson (D-Northampton), and State Representative Mark Gillen (R-Berks). The group wants to create a system where ordinary citizens—not politicians—would have the power to redraw the district lines for state and congressional elections. This is to prevent the manipulation of district boundaries for political advantage, which has been a common issue in the past.
Senator Kearney spoke passionately about the need for reform, stating, “Pennsylvania voters want fair districts.” Representative Gillen also emphasized the need for change, calling the current system of gerrymandering “indefensible.”
What is Gerrymandering and Why Does It Matter?
Gerrymandering is when political parties redraw district boundaries to favor their own interests, often making elections less fair. In Pennsylvania, for example, the 2011 redrawing of the 7th Congressional District created a shape that became famously known as “Goofy Kicking Donald Duck.” This map was widely criticized for being an example of extreme gerrymandering. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the district was unconstitutional, but the issue remains a problem in many parts of the country.
Supporters of these new bills argue that the current redistricting process is not transparent and often excludes public input. This leads to the creation of districts that do not fairly represent the voters. Instead, the goal is to have a process that respects communities and ensures that district lines reflect actual population groups, not political interests.
Independent Redistricting Commission Proposal
The new bills, House Bill 31 and Senate Bill 31, are designed to set up an independent commission to handle redistricting starting in 2031. The commission would have 11 members, selected through a process that ensures a balance of political views. Six members would be chosen by lottery—two from the state’s largest political party, two from the second-largest, and two from a pool of independent voters. These members would then pick five additional commissioners to complete the panel.
This commission would have strict rules to ensure its independence, including banning commissioners from having ties to political parties or campaigns. The goal is to make the process of drawing districts more neutral and fair.
Ending Prison Gerrymandering
Another key element of the proposed amendment is the ban on prison gerrymandering. This practice counts inmates as residents of the districts where they are incarcerated, even though they cannot vote and do not live there permanently. This leads to a situation where districts with prisons have more political power than they should, while districts with larger populations in cities and towns are underrepresented.
The law changes would stop this practice and help ensure that the power of each vote is more equally distributed across the state. The push to end prison gerrymandering also aims to reduce the impact of racial inequalities in the electoral process, as communities of color are disproportionately affected by this practice.
Support for Reform is Growing
Many organizations, including Common Cause Pennsylvania, the League of Women Voters, and Fair Districts PA, are backing the proposed bills. These groups argue that gerrymandering weakens democracy by giving unfair advantages to certain political groups and undermines trust in the electoral process. They are hopeful that with bipartisan support, these reforms can be implemented in the near future.
Polling shows that many Pennsylvanians, across the political spectrum, are in favor of redistricting reform. A petition signed by 102,000 people shows strong support for creating fairer districts.
Challenges Ahead
Although these bills are gaining support, passing them into law will not be easy. The legislation faces an uphill battle in the state Senate, where some lawmakers may be resistant to giving up control over the redistricting process. Still, advocates are hopeful that with growing public pressure, the reforms will eventually pass.
In addition to redistricting reform, Pennsylvania could become the first state to ban prison gerrymandering through a constitutional amendment, which would be a major step forward for election fairness.
What Can You Do?
If you support fair redistricting, lawmakers encourage you to speak up. Contacting your state representatives and telling them you want fair elections is a powerful way to get involved. Additionally, supporting organizations that fight for electoral reforms can help move the state closer to a system that better represents all Pennsylvanians.
(Source : newsbreak.com)