1. Support Redistricting Reform in Pennsylvania

2. Voters should choose their legislators
Reality: Legislators can now choose their voters
Every vote should count
Reality: Many votes don’t make a difference
As Americans we share certain assumptions about how our government should work.
Voters should choose their legislators; every vote should count. In reality, that’s often not the case. Legislators choose their voters; many times our votes really don’t make a difference
There are lots of factors that contribute to this, but analysts point to two in particular: gerrymandered districts and money in politics. Here in PA, we have some of the most gerrymandered districts in the country and add to that the lack of campaign finance reform.

3. Who Does Redistricting in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Congressional Districts
State legislature
State House and Senate Districts
Commission of five individuals: four party leaders and a chair
PA Constitution Article II, Section 16:
All districts for the same level office must have equal population.
Districts must be geographically compact and contiguous.
District cannot unnecessarily divide existing geopolitical entities.
Redistricting must be done in compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act which blocks district lines that deny minority voters an equal opportunity “to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.”
According to the PA State Constitution (Article 2, Section 17) Legislative districts are designed by a bipartisan five member commission – the four Republican and Democratic leaders of the state House and Senate. These four choose a fifth member who becomes the chair. If the four legislative leaders deadlock the Supreme Court picks the chair (the Court is now Dem leaning and likely to pick a Dem for this replacement).
The Legislature does not vote on their mapped plan and the Governor does not sign it.The decision of the commission is FINAl unless overturned by the State Supreme Court or a Federal Court.
Since the standards are not clearly defined, the courts have been reluctant to enforce them.

4. To really understand the intent, and the harm, of gerrymandering, you need to see it in context. In this slide you can see the artful choreography that divides the post-industrial urban, mostly minority communities among white suburban and rural areas. For instance, Districts 6 and 16 where Reading, the city proper and the 5th largest city in Pennsylvania ends up with no real representation at the national level, and very little at the state level, because it’s carved out from the rest of District 6 and put with Lancaster. While it’s not possible to draw direct causation between lack of representation and other issues like poverty and low school funding, follow the dips and turns in the maps and you’ll see similar stories. Reading has the most underfunded schools IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!

5. What Changed? Mapping technology Data mining capabilities
Huge infusion of undisclosed
outside money following Citizens’ United decision in 2010
The technology advances of the last decade have made a serious problem far worse. Many states now use software like Maptitude, illustrated here, which combines precise mapping capabilities with voter registration data, voting results, as well as available marketing data. The software accurately “sorts” voters according to instructions given.
Note the locations of candidates and incumbents. In decades before, those would have been marks or thumbtacks on a map on a desk. Now, parties can pinpoint incumbents and opponents and create precise districts with almost guaranteed results.

6. Impact on voters Diminished choice in the primary
Diminished choice between parties in general elections

7. Do you want….. Support a Constitutional Amendment for Reform!
Even more polarization?
The Courts to determine our district boundaries?
Increased citizen dissatisfaction with government?
Already at historic levels
Support a Constitutional Amendment for Reform!
Independent citizens commission
4 Largest registered party, 4 Second largest, 3 Independent and other
No politicians, no family of politicians, no staff
We’d like our votes to count!