From Fair Districts PA (http://www.fairdistrictspa.com):
The redistricting countdown has begun here in PA. On March 16 legislative leaders announced the appointment of four of the five Legislative Reapportionment Commissioners: Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton. For the first time, the commission will have women and a person of color.
The four now have 45 days to agree on a fifth person to serve as chair. If they can’t agree, that person will be selected by the majority of the PA Supreme Court. Once the commission is fully certified, work can begin on clarifying schedule and ensuring a public process is in place.
One other sign of progress: a major update of the Pennsylvania Redistricting website. It now has PA legislative maps going back to 1790, Congressional back to 1931, current Census Bureau materials and schedule, and other information of interest. We’ll continue to ask for even more: ability for citizens to submit and analyze maps and offer comment on proposed district plans.
Our March toward Transparency campaign is going strong. We have constituents in every senatorial district arranging visits with their legislators to urge speedy passage of LACRA, the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act, HB 22 and SB 222. As of today, we also have 190 house districts covered. We do need more constituents in some districts. If you get a targeted recruitment email for your district, please sign up so we can cover every single district.
PA has one of the largest per capita prison populations in the country. People in prison aren’t allowed to vote in the places where they’re incarcerated, yet the Census Bureau counts them in the counties where they’re imprisoned and not the communities they come from distorting electoral power. 10 states have passed legislation to end this practice. We’re co-hosting 6 regional forums to share information, hear from impacted communities and network for change. explain avenues toward change. All are Zoom events, so choose the one in your region, or one that fits your schedule.
- Northeast PA, March 22, 7 to 8:30 pm
- Northwest PA, March 25, 7 to 8:30 pm
- Southeast PA, April 6, 7 to 8:30 pm
- Southwest PA, April 10, 11am to 12:30 pm
- North Central PA, April 15, 7 to 8:30 pm
- South Central PA, April 17, 11am to 12:30 pm
Co-hosts: Decarceration Bloc, Free the Ballot, Straight Ahead!, Abolitionist Law Center, Fair Districts PA, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, PA Council of Churches Advocacy and ACLU of Pennsylvania.
Would you like to send some postcards?
As the weather warms you may want to meet with friends in a park for a postcard party, or order enough to bag up and share with friends and neighbors. Order 15 up to 100 cards to send to your legislators and legislative leaders. Directions about who to send them to are emailed once your order is placed. Cards are provided free of charge, but you provide postage. Click the section header above for the order form.
Thanks for your continued support. Our work in the next few months will directly affect the next 10 years of PA politics and policy.
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