How is Redistricting Done in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, there are separate redistricting processes for U.S. Congressional House districts, state Legislative Districts and local government bodies.

-U.S. Congressional House districts are redrawn in legislation that must pass both chambers of the State Legislature and be signed by the governor.  In 2011, the Republican Party will have a majority membership in the Pennsylvania House and Senate and will also hold the governorship.  This means that one party will be in control of creating Congressional district boundaries.  There is nothing in state law governing the redistricting process or the outcome.  Under federal law, the districts must be equal in population.  They must also adhere to provision in Section 2 of the Federal Voting Rights Act which dilute minority voter’s voting power.

-Pennsylvania’s state House and Senate districts are redrawn according to procedures set forth in Article II, Section 17 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.  The Constitution creates a five-member Legislative Reapportionment Commission composed of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Pennsylvania House and Senate and a fifth member they choose who will serve as chairman.  The chairman must be a citizen of the Commonwealth but cannot hold a local, state or federal office to which compensation is attached.

In addition, Article II, Section 16 of the Pennsylvania Constitution says that the Commonwealth’s 50 senatorial districts and 203 representative districts “shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable.” It also says that “Unless absolutely necessary, no county, city, incorporated town, borough township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district.”

-Local government representative districts are under provisions of Article IX, Section 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.  This article says that redistricting shall be carried out “by its governing body or, as shall otherwise be provided by uniform law, into districts which shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable…”

The 2011 Redistricting Timetable

• The process began informally as soon as the leadership for the House and Senate was selected.
• No later than April 1, 2011, Pennsylvania will get final census numbers which will be used in drawing redistricting plans.
• The process, including any court challenges, must be completed by January 2012 so candidates can meet the February 2012 filing deadline for the April 2012 Primary.

Update: The Majority and Minority leaders of the Pennsylvania House and Senate were unable to agree on a chairman, thus forcing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to decide the issue.  They selected former Superior Court judge Stephen McEwen Jr.  Read more about this selection on our blog.

June 26, 2011 – The House approved SR 148, a concurrent resolution to adopt the population data certified by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission for use in congressional redistricting legislation

June 23, 2011 – The Senate approved SR 148, a concurrent resolution to adopt the population data certified by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission for use in congressional redistricting legislation.