About Redistricting
Why does redistricting matter?
What is the League’s position?
How can the process be reformed now?
How can you get more information?
Pennsylvania Redistricting
How is redistricting done in Pennsylvania? (separate page)
The 2011 Redistricting Timetable (separate page)
Problems in Pennsylvania
What’s wrong with the Pennsylvania System? (separate page)
What is Redistricting?
Members of the U.S. Congress, state legislators and many city, township and borough council members are elected from districts. Under the one person, one vote requirement of the U.S. Constitution, the boundaries of such districts must be drawn so they are substantially equal in population. Every 10 years the Federal Government conducts a census to identify population changes. The results are used to redraw district boundaries. This process is called redistricting.
Why does Redistricting Matter?
The way that district lines are drawn puts voters together in groups – some voters are kept together in one district and others are separated and placed into different districts. In our system of representative government, whichever group has the most votes within a district usually decides who wins election to represent that district in the U.S. Congress, the Pennsylvania Legislature and other government policy making bodies like city councils.
The way lines are drawn can keep certain voters together in groups or split them apart. For example, census numbers can be used to identify communities such as city neighborhoods in which residents who are mostly Caucasian, or African American, or Asian American or Hispanic. Voter registration information and voting patterns can be used to identify communities most likely to vote for Democratic or Republican candidates. If district lines are drawn to group these communities together (packing) they are more likely to elect a candidate of the same demographic characteristic or political party. Lines can also be drawn to dilute a community’s voting strength by splitting it apart (cracking).
The process of drawing district boundaries to advantage or disadvantage a particular political party or group is called gerrymandering. The term gerrymander got its name from Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry who, in 1812 signed a bill redrawing the state’s senate districts to advantage the election of candidates from his political party. One of the districts suggested the shape of a salamander which led to the creation of this famous political cartoon.
The way lines are drawn can determine whether a community has a representative that feels responsible for its concerns. Ultimately, the way lines are drawn can determine who controls a governing body such as the Pennsylvania General Assembly and which policies get passed in to law – policies such as how much you pay in taxes.
Why should you care?
- Gerrymandering is the equivalent of rigging elections to get a predetermined outcome.
- You loose voting power because how you are represented is determine by a handful of powerful legislative leaders.
- Loss of political voice. Rank and file legislators are pressured to vote with the caucus rather than with their consciences.
- Low voter turnout. If the outcome is predetermined, why vote?.
- Unresponsive representation. Politicians assured of reelection stop listening to their constituents.
- Ideological polarization. By creating districts composed of most Democrats or Republicans, legislators need only listen to the view of the partisans who vote in the primaries who often represent the extreme views of each party. Legislators have a strong incentive to reflect the views of party extremes. The opportunity for bipartisan negotiation and compromise is diminished.
What is the League’s Position?
-The League believes the redistricting process should put the interests of the VOTERS FIRST.
-Redistricting should advance the fundamental purposes of representative democracy and a republican form of government by affording the people a meaningful choice in electing their representative and by holding government accountable to the people.
-In 2008, the League supported a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would:
- Assign the process for redrawing congressional and legislative district boundaries to a nonpartisan bureau that is insulated from partisan political pressure. In drawing plans, the redistricting body would be prohibited from using the addresses of incumbent legislators or members of Congress, political affiliation of registered voters, or previous election results.
- Ensure that the redistricting process is transparent with a meaningful opportunity for the public to participate.
- Prevent redistricting based on the changes in the political landscape by allowing redistricting only once per decade following the census unless ordered by a court.
Our proposal would require that redistricting plans should adhere to the following standards in rank order:
- Adhere the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote” as a basic democratic value.
- Adhere to the provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The League support for minority rights extends to full political participation, effective representation and the opportunity to elect candidates of choice.
- Promote competitiveness and partisan fairness while protecting effective representation of minority citizens.
- Respect political subdivisions and communities of interest.
- Encourage geographical compactness and respect for natural geographic features and barriers.
How can the process be reformed now?
It is too late now to pass a reform amendment to the constitution to take effect for the 2011 round of redistricting. But it is not too late to make the current process work better to protect the interests of voters. The League is calling on those in charge of redistricting to:
- Conduct meetings in public
- Post information on the internet including data and maps
- Hold public hearings throughout the state prior to drawing maps to learn about existing problems.
- Hold public hearings again after maps are drawn.
- Make redistricting software available on the internet so interested citizens can draw alternative maps.
- Comply with federal and state law including the Voting Rights Act.
- Do not allow use of voter performance, voter registration, or incumbents’ addresses
- Respect political boundaries
- Make and observe strict rules for dividing political subdivisions more than once
- Assure that all parts of each district are contiguous. Districts joined at a single point shall not be considered contiguous.
- Make districts as compact as possible consistent with above criteria.
- Count prisoners at their homes rather than their cells.
How to get more information.
Please visit the Resources section of this website.
How can you help?
Please visit the Get Involved section of this website.
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