Pennsylvania’s new state House and Senate maps are now set in stone after the state Supreme Court rejected a host of legal challenges.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has approved the final legislative maps drawn by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC). We applaud the Court’s decision and are proud that action from groups like the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA), Fair Districts PA, and Committee of Seventy has had a positive impact on the redistricting process in Pennsylvania.
Terrie Griffin, President of LWVPA, states:
“The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania will continue to stand up to the powerful, and challenge them to do better. The process this time around is better than it has been in a long time, and we are relieved that the LRC’s efforts were upheld by the court. Specifically, we want to note that the extreme gerrymandering was curtailed, that there was a genuine opportunity for meaningful public input that was actually considered and affected the outcome. These maps are more than a political fight, or a victory for a side, they are representation and participation. We look forward to empowering voters to participate, knowing that they are more fairly represented than before.”
Since the 1980s, LWVPA has advocated for a less partisan redistricting process. LWVPA was a lead plaintiff in the historic redistricting case League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and we recently filed an amicus brief in support of these most recent final legislative maps
The LRC performed to the best of its ability in creating fair maps through a thorough process that invited public input. Our current redistricting process is inherently partisan, yet the LRC included and valued public input in its process to produce a final map that met all legal requirements. While we understand that no map is perfect, these maps limit partisan bias, comply with state and federal requirements, and are therefore fair.
While neither perfect nor seamless, this legislative redistricting process was much improved over those of the past. We thank Chair Mark Nordenberg for his independent, prepared, and adaptable leadership. We again applaud the participation of women, including a Black woman, on the commission. While commission members did not always see eye to eye, it is not a coincidence that when women participated, the political process and the results were better.
These maps are not the end result of our work, but rather the first towards a free, fair, and independent redistricting process which upholds the voting rights of all Pennsylvanians.
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