Pa. plans vote on legislative redistricting draft

    A preliminary plan to redraw Pennsylvania House and Senate district boundaries could be approved Monday.

    The Legislative Reapportionment Commission, chaired by a nonpartisan judge and the leaders of the four legislative caucuses, is scheduled to vote on proposed redistricting maps.

    One or two state Senate districts will likely need to be moved from west to east, according to Erik Arneson, Senate GOP spokesman.

    “The population in the western half of the state has declined quite significantly and the population in the east starting from south central Pennsylvania through the southeast, and up even into the northeast Poconos region has experienced a real strong population growth over that time period,” he said.

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    A House Democratic spokesman said Friday there are indications Democrats will be disadvantaged, but House Republicans counter that the proposed boundaries will be fair and legal.

    If a rough district map is approved Monday, a 30-day public comment period will begin–a requirement before the commission votes on a final plan.

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