Gerrymandering/Redistricting

Today, the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court held a hearing on Congressional Redistricting where lawyers for all the parties and amici who submitted maps for consideration in the Commonwealth Court proceeding argued about the relative merits of their maps and mapmaking processes.

This process is far from over, but we know that our democracy works best when We the People are represented by elected officials who share their values, lived experiences and priorities. Pennsylvanians deserve nothing less.

Today, a group of Pennsylvania voters who are deeply committed to free and equal elections have weighed in on congressional redistricting for the Commonwealth.

“This is absolutely a regression from what we already have,” said Khalif Ali, the head of Common Cause Pennsylvania, a nonpartisan good-government group. “When I was reading through it, I was just amazed.”

Khalif Ali, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, said they are also asking the Supreme Court to end what's known as "prison gerrymandering," when people in prison are counted as residents of the county where they're incarcerated, not where they would normally vote.

The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission will meet today to hold a fourth hearing on the proposed maps for the State House and Senate districts. The public is invited to provide testimony, during which Common Cause Pennsylvania will advocate for changes to the proposed maps that provide equal voting power to everyone in the commonwealth, regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code.