The boundaries of state House and Senate districts across the state are in the process of being redrawn to reflect population changes highlighted in the 2020 U.S. Census. Typically, these changes are modest, as the map drawers aim to maintain existing districts and communities of interest as much as possible.
However, this year’s Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) – which is comprised of 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and chair Mark Nordenberg, a Democrat, appointed by the Democratic-majority state Supreme Court – voted 3-2 to approve the House map without any Republican support. This map appears to have wholly disregarded several existing communities of interest, making extensive changes in a number of districts across the state.
Maps and descriptions of the current district and proposed new districts are available https://www.redistricting.state.pa.us/maps/?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.redistricting.state.pa.us%2fmaps&utm_campaign=More+on+Mask+Mandate.
There is time and opportunity for residents to have their say on this proposal. The LRC is accepting comments on its website for a 30-day, public comment period, prior to a final vote by the commission in January. Interested constituents may submit feedback online at https://www.redistricting.state.pa.us/comment/?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.redistricting.state.pa.us%2fcomment%2f&utm_campaign=More+on+Mask+Mandate.
People who are interested in testifying, either in person or virtually, about how the map impacts their area can register to testify at public hearings in Harrisburg on Jan. 6-7.
The deadline for citizens to submit comments for the House and Senate district plan is January 18, 2022.
Congressional Maps
The preliminary congressional map that reflects the loss of one congressional seat (from 18 to 17) due to Pennsylvania’s slower population growth relative to other faster growing states is publicly available and citizens are invited to provide public comment. https://app.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/pennsylvania/updated_preliminary_map?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fapp.mydistricting.com%2flegdistricting%2fpennsylvania%2fupdated_preliminary_map&utm_campaign=More+on+Mask+Mandate