Independent Citizen’s Commission for Redistricting Reform

Thank you for your interest in this important issue.  My aim this legislative session is to enact legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution, and change the way we conduct the redistricting process in the Commonwealth by removing politics and creating a truly Independent Citizen’s Commission.

Please click here to read a letter I have shared about my legislative efforts.

My past co-sponsorship memo for the 2017-18 session legislation, SB 22, can be found here.

HB 722 – Establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission in Pennsylvania – is the House of Representatives companion bill to SB 22.

From the HB 722 memo: “In the near future, we will be introducing a joint resolution – House Bill 722 – to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution by establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission to provide a nonpartisan process for redistricting in the Commonwealth for State Senate, State House and Congressional districts.” CONTINUE READING →

Form an independent redistricting committee of citizens to redraw both congressional and legislative districts.

Apply sound methodology when setting district boundaries to enable communities of interest to remain together.

Include meaningful opportunities for active public participation and transparency.

Remove stakeholders and politics from the process and give it to the people

• Fair elections are critical for better government.

• Too many races in the federal and state legislature are over in the primary due to how districts are drawn.

• We need to start the process now, so we can have the Commission in place for the next census in 2020.

• This is not a partisan issue; it is a people issue.

• These lines are drawn every 10 years upon a new census.

• To create an independent Commission, we will need to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution.

REDISTRICTING REFORM CORE PRINCIPLES

• ASSIGN redistricting authority to an independent citizens commission.

• REFORM both congressional & legislative redistricting.

• PROHIBIT districts from being drawn to favor or discriminate against a political party or candidate.

• USE sound methodology when setting district boundaries.

• ENSURE transparency in the process with meaningful opportunities for active public participation.

• MAKE all districts as equal in population as possible with a minimum range of deviation.

• RESPECT political subdivisions and communities of interest.