Do You Want Fair, Equitable Legislative District Maps? Apply to Be on the Reapportionment Commission

From Common Cause (http://www.commoncause.org):

Pennsylvania will draw new state legislative maps this year — and for the first time ever, everyday Pennsylvanians have a chance to lead that process rather than relying exclusively on political insiders.

Our state Constitution calls for the chair of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) — the body that’s responsible for drawing Pennsylvania House and Senate districts — to be chosen through weeks of private deliberations by the four legislative leaders on the committee, and, if they can’t compromise by the deadline, by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

But they just announced that they’ll be opening this selection process up to the public — allowing any Pennsylvanian to apply, and prioritizing transparency through public interviews and meetings.

We know that there are thousands of Common Cause Pennsylvania members across the state who care deeply about drawing fair, equitable maps that are reflective of our state’s population — and if you’re one of them, we want you to be a part of this process.

Are you interested in drawing Pennsylvania’s legislative maps equitably, transparently, and with public input? Read more about how to apply here.

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If you want to serve as the chair of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, there’s just two requirements — first, that you are a Pennsylvania citizen, and second, that you do not hold any salaried local, state, or federal office.

Applying is easy, and it makes a big difference — politicians in Pennsylvania have historically abused their redistricting powers with racial and partisan gerrymanders that deny us fair representation, particularly Black and Brown voters.

So having someone on the commission who is dedicated to our democracy and willing to hold the other members accountable — making sure they focus on Pennsylvania communities, rather than on partisan interests — is absolutely essential.

All you have to do is send a resume, and a letter explaining why you are interested in serving on the LRC and why you should be considered, to lrc@redistricting.state.pa.us by Friday, April 9th.

You can read more about the application process here.

It’s the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s job to protect our right to fair representation. Will you join in on their work?