OP-ED: Voters must study district maps to stop gerrymandering
It’s taken too long to get to this point, but Pennsylvania voters now have at least one map from the state Legislature to consider in how congressional and legislative districts will be reorganized for the next decade.
Now, the redistricting process goes into high gear, and voters need to pay attention, speak up and ensure self-serving politicians don’t draw maps that protect their power and dilute that of voters. And that goes for both Democrats and Republicans.
House Republicans have proposed using a map drawn by former Lehigh County Republican Commissioner Amanda Holt, a redistricting reform advocate. But it’s easier than ever before to study and compare maps proposed by a myriad of groups intent on making sure a few slick politicians draw their own safe havens to the detriment of thousands of voters.
This time, voters have more ways than ever to see through the redistricting fog. Dave’s Redistricting App is one of the best tools to compare maps and to see if they meet criteria for fairness and political balance.
Thanks to PennLive and Spotlight PA, which has sponsored a one-year project on redistricting in Pennsylvania, voters can easily come up to speed on who’s proposing what, who benefits and why.
And redistricting watchdogs like David Thornburgh and Mark Villere, with Draw the Lines PA, are keeping almost hourly watch on developments at the state capital. They have been alarmed at how long it has taken for legislators to do their jobs and provide maps for voters to consider before the May 2022 primary.
Remember there are timelines for every step of the process, including allowing voters at least 30 days to comment before the final vote. Draw the Lines PA also is providing voters their own bipartisan analysis of the proposed redistricting maps, and they are galvanizing public engagement to help ensure the voices of voters are heard.
Thornburgh believes what voters want most of all are districts that keep their communities intact and that allow easy access to the offices of their representatives. They also want districts that are politically balanced and competitive.
That means no gerrymandering. It means no creating districts to keep one politician or one political party in power. And it means no deliberate attempts to dilute the votes of certain racial or ethnic groups to curtail their political power.
It seems so simple and reasonable, but it’s a tall order for some politicians who just don’t think they can win unless the cards are stacked in their favor. They want to ensure they hold onto their seats whether they deserve them or not. But that’s exactly what will happen if voters don’t take advantage of all the tools at their disposal to keep tabs on the redistricting maps now being proposed and demand legislators act in the best interests of all Pennsylvanians.
Like Draw the Lines PA, we are encouraged there is at least a map on the table to start the dialogue, but we join them in calling for the House State Government Committee to provide details of how the new lines were drawn and why.
And we join Draw the Lines PA in insisting legislators engage the public in the process and act on their behalf, and not just to protect their own political blocks.