LWVPA Files Amicus Brief In Support Of Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s Final Maps
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA), Fair Districts PA, and Committee of Seventy filed an amicus brief today in support of the final legislative maps drawn by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC).
LWVPA, a nonpartisan political organization, has encouraged informed and active participation in government for over 100 years. Since the 1980s, LWVPA has advocated for a less partisan redistricting process. LWVPA was a lead plaintiff in the historic redistricting case League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The League, alongside our partners, has advocated for legislation creating a truly independent citizens’ redistricting commission with prohibitions on districts drawn to favor or disfavor one person or party, and with clear, enforceable criteria.
Even while laboring under the inherently partisan process mandated by current law, the LRC performed admirably. The LRC incorporated public input in exemplary fashion to produce a final map that met all legal requirements.
The objections to the final LRC map raised by those challenging it are meritless. A fair map is, by definition, one that limits partisan bias. The final maps significantly limit partisan bias and are therefore fair.
No map is perfect, but the LRC map is the result of a robust and appropriate process and complies with all state and federal requirements.
We support the official adoption of these maps, and encourage voters to closely monitor this process, which is critical to the fair representation of all Pennsylvanians.
Contact:
Susan Gobreski, Director of Government Policy, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
governmentpolicy@palwv.org.
Carol Kuniholm, Chair, Fair Districts PA
carol@fairdistrictspa.com