Apr 6, 2017 2 min read

Voting districts in Pennsylvania are drawn up by the state Legislature, which is like the fox drawing up designs for the henhouse. In self-interest, successive Pennsylvania Legislatures have remapped the state’s voting districts to maximize incumbent seat retention and the power of both political parties. Pennsylvania’s once geographically consolidated voting districts are now fragmented along party lines.

Pennsylvania voters are often denied a choice in candidates. The power and voice of the individual citizen in government is weakened. Legislators who choose the best interests of their constituents over their party can be forced out of office by having their district remapped. Bipartisanship, compromise and majority rule are all casualties of the current system.

Concerned Pennsylvania voters are fighting to bring back fairness to congressional and state elections. I urge voters to read about Fair Districts PA at its website, fairdistrictspa.com, with the goal to make Pennsylvania’s redistricting process transparent, impartial and fair. Fair Districts PA, a project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, is supporting Pennsylvania Senate Bill 22, which would replace the state Legislature with a non-office holding, independent commission to draw up congressional and state legislative maps. The time for change is now.

Heather Purnell

Peters Township

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