From Fair Districts PA (http://www.fairdistrictspa.com):
In the last few months there have been lots of questions about redistricting reform efforts.
Are we giving up? Not a chance.
Is it still possible to have an independent redistricting commission in Pennsylvania? YES!
Are there things we can be doing? ABSOLUTELY!
While we missed the immediate deadline for a constitutional amendment, a bill to create a citizens commission for just congressional redistricting can be passed in just one legislative session.
Exploration is also underway for unexpected ways to have an amendment passed in time to have legislative districts drawn by that same commission in 2021.
Is it possible? We think so.
Is it more wonky and complicated than ever? Yes.
But the more we learn about the ways gerrymandering undercuts representation for ALL of us, the more determined we are to change the process. So stay tuned!
How can you help NOW? Make this an election issue.
FDPA has emailed all PA candidates for state legislature, Congress, even governor and lieutenant governor, asking for their positions on redistricting reform. You can find responses on our Know Before You Vote page.
Please take a look and see if your candidates have responded. (Make sure you look at the full response, not just the initial summary card.)
If they haven’t responded (we know some requests landed in spam filters!), please use the supplied email address to contact their campaign offices. Ask them to email electioninfo@FairDistrictsPA.com to request a survey form.
If they’ve responded, send them a thank-you email!
The more voters they hear from, the more clear the message: this matters!
Please also consider attending candidate debates and town halls and asking: what will YOU do to help pass legislation to create an independent redistricting commission?
Another fun way to help: sign up for a shift at an info booth
Local groups are organizing info booths at community days and county fairs. Check out our events page to see where. Then contact that group if you can work a shift. To find all info booths across the state filter by Info Booth once you’ve landed on our events page.
If you can make it to the Capitol we will have an info booth set up for the first day of the upcoming legislative session on September 24. Sign up for that here.
Thanks again for your part in this work.
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