What’s happening: Common Cause is advocating for an end to political gerrymandering with fair redistricting laws in Pennsylvania. This legislation would update the state’s constitution and implement an independent citizens redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.  

 This legislation would also ban prison gerrymandering, a disgraceful practice that distorts census counts by inflating population totals where prisons are located—typically rural areas—and lowering them in the places incarcerated people come from, disproportionately communities of color in urban centers.  

Who is Sponsoring It:  

• State Senator Tim Kearney is a longtime community leader in southeastern Pennsylvania who was inspired to serve the public after a career in architecture and community planning. He has served in the legislature since 2019. 

• Representative Steve Samuelson is the Democratic Majority Chair of the Pennsylvania House Finance Committee. Before being elected in 1998, he worked as a legislative aide and journalist.  

• Representative Mark Gillen has a background in public service and has served in the legislature since 2011.  

Learn more about Independent Redistricting Commissions → 

Catch up quick: Independent citizen redistricting commissions are groups of people chosen to draw voting maps who are completely independent of legislators and political parties. Commissions are significantly more likely to seek public feedback and integrate it into voting maps. This reform helps to create fair representation so that all people can have an equal say in our democracy.  

Why it matters: Voters pick our leaders — leaders should not get to pick and choose their voters. But entrenched gerrymandering practices allow politicians to draw maps that grow their power at the expense of the communities they’re elected to serve. Independent Redistricting Commissions strengthen our democracy by putting the power to draw electoral maps in the hands of the people.  

Dig deeper: Independent citizen redistricting commissions (IRCs) are already thriving in cities and states around the country. These commissioners and advocates explain how IRCs put people over politics. Watch our full series here.  

Learn more about Prison Gerrymandering → 

 Catch up quick: Prison gerrymandering distorts census counts by counting incarcerated people where prisons are located, rather than counting them—in the places prisoners come from, disproportionately communities of color in urban centers. This practice results in the over-representation of communities with prisons, at the expense of those communities that have borne the brunt of mass incarceration. 

 Why it matters: This is also a racial justice issue. Mass incarceration disproportionately impacts people of color. Since incarcerated individuals overwhelmingly do not have the right to vote, they are counted towards the creation of a district in which they have no political say – and where the local representative has no incentive to represent their needs.  

Dig deeper: In 2020, Pennsylvania took a significant step by eliminating prison gerrymandering for state legislative districts in a decision that was only binding on that redistricting cycle. However, this did not permanently change Pennsylvania law change or extend to congressional districts or and local jurisdictions. In 2024, Common Cause successfully ended prison gerrymandering in Minnesota. This necessary reform was years in the making. “Power doesn’t like to give up power easily,” said Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera of Common Cause Minnesota. 

 What’s next: If you live in Pennsylvania, reach out to your state legislators and tell them that you want them to support an independent citizens redistricting commission and end prison gerrymandering.  

No matter where you live, get involved with Common Cause. We’re fighting to end gerrymandering from California to Connecticut, and we can win if we all join together.  

 Common Cause is working to build the resiliency of our democracy by addressing threats like gerrymandering. 

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