How to weigh in on Pennsylvania’s next legislative maps
The Legislative Reapportionment Commission will hold four meetings the week of Jan. 3 to accept feedback on the maps, both in person and virtually.
Members of the Draw the Lines initiative stand with cutouts of congressional districts at a Capitol protest. (Amanda Berg for Spotlight PA)
This story originally appeared on Spotlight PA.
A Pennsylvania redistricting panel wants to hear from the public about its proposed state House and Senate maps.
The maps were created by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, a five-person panel composed of the top leaders from the General Assembly and an independent chair.
The public can provide feedback online or at meetings this month. The panel then has 30 days to consider the comments before voting on a final map, which could be challenged in court. The state’s congressional map is created and approved in a separate process.
Related Content
In questioning, the GOP judges appeared hesitant to interfere in the legislature, while Democrats probed whether there were any limits to its ability to access private info.
3 years ago
Here’s how you can get involved:
Attend or watch a meeting
The Legislative Reapportionment Commission will hold four meetings the week of Jan. 3 to accept feedback on the maps, both in person and virtually. Additional meetings will be held on Jan. 14 and 15.
Thursday, Jan. 6 from 3–5 p.m.: Speaker signups are closed for this meeting.
North Office Building, Hearing Room 1 in Harrisburg | Livestream
Thursday, Jan. 6 from 6–8 p.m.: Speaker signups are closed for this meeting.
North Office Building, Hearing Room 1 in Harrisburg | Livestream
Friday, Jan. 7 from 9–11 a.m.: Speaker signups are closed for this meeting.
North Office Building, Hearing Room 1 in Harrisburg | Livestream
Friday, Jan. 7 from 1–3 p.m.: As of Monday at noon, the panel was still accepting in-person and virtual speaker signups here.
North Office Building, Hearing Room 1 in Harrisburg | Livestream
Related Content
Advocates are turning to the redistricting process to secure political power, but legal and systemic roadblocks pose a significant challenge.
3 years ago
Submit comments
The Legislative Reapportionment Commission is accepting testimony through its website. Comments are posted publicly.
Learn more
Spotlight PA is hosting a free, virtual event on Thursday, Jan. 6 at noon to break down the maps, how they could shift political power, and their potential impact on Pennsylvanians.
The news organization has also launched an online tool that allows Pennsylvanians to compare their current and proposed districts.
This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media.
Never miss a moment with the WHYY Listen App!
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Despite transparency vows, much of Pa.’s redistricting still takes place behind closed doors
The task of reshaping Pennsylvania's political maps falls to a small group of legislative insiders, a system that critics worry facilitates backroom deals.
3 years ago
Redistricting reform in Pa. is dead for now, advocates say. So what’s next?
Anti-gerrymandering advocates are relying on promises from those in charge of drawing the state’s political maps to hold hearings and allow citizen input.
3 years ago
Pa. Supreme Court will pick chair of powerful state redistricting panel
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will pick the chair of a powerful redistricting panel after the General Assembly’s top leaders failed to agree.
4 years ago