In 2016, Fair Districts PA began its efforts to educate the public and the press about the need for a fair and independent system of redistricting for Pennsylvania’s congressional and state legislative districts. Today, we’re fueled by an army of over 5,000 volunteers.
We’ve made 1,296 presentations to citizen groups statewide, attended by 49,331 people, appeared on scores of radio and TV public affairs programs and podcasts, and talked with numerous editorial boards. The results:
- Reform bills, drafted by bipartisan authors with Fair Districts input, tallied more bipartisan co-sponsors, including a House majority, than any legislation of the 2017-18 session.
- In the 2019-20 session, HBs 23/22 had the most co-sponsors of all bills filed (99/97). Companion Senate bills 1023 and 1022 had 19/20 cosponsors respectively.
- We met with 200 of 253 state Representatives and Senators asking them to co-sponsor and support HB22/SB222 (LACRA) to promote redistricting fairness, transparency, public input and mapping guidelines. Despite 90 House co-sponsors and 25 (50%) Senators, the Senate bill was gutted with little advance notice after nearly a year of effort and never voted upon.
- Statewide ${passedTotal} governing bodies, including ${passedCounties} county commissions, have declared their support for fair redistricting practices. These elected bodies, with both Republican and Democratic majorities, represent over 9 million Pennsylvanians—70% of the state population.
- The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) passed a resolution of support. PSAB represents 956 PA boroughs with a combined population of 2.6 million Pennsylvanians.
- 113,932 Pennsylvanians have signed petitions supporting an independent commission. Another 19,458 have signed petitions calling for fair rules reforms.
- Our supporters have called, visited legislative offices and sent thousands of letters, emails and faxes to their local legislators calling for change.
- Hometown newspapers have printed 667 letters to the editor supporting reform.
- In addition to writing over 1,851 news articles about redistricting, gerrymandering, and unfair rules, over 100 media outlets statewide, representing big cities and small towns and a full political spectrum, have run over 713 editorials, op-eds and columns—virtually ALL of them calling for reform.
- Redistricting reform is on the march nationwide. In the November 2018 general election, voters in Michigan, Colorado, Utah and Missouri approved referendums to create independent commissions (MI, CO and MO by margins of 60-70 percent.)
Statewide polls found that 2/3rds of Pennsylvanians in three polls* support an independent commission, free of political influence and operating in total transparency.
Opponents cannot continue to ignore the clear will of the people. We will not stop until they adopt true reform.
*Apr. 18, 2018, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center with Common Cause PA and League of Women Voters PA, 68% support an independent commission.
*October 2019, Franklin & Marshall Poll, 72% believe current system lets party leaders put their interests over those of voters. 67% favor an independent commission to draw voting district lines. (Dem 66% Ind.78% Rep63%)
**June 2018, Pittsburgh Quality of Life survey by Pittsburgh Today and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research.
8/21 Franklin and Marshall Poll
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