Thousands of Voters Signed on in Support
PA Voters want an Independent Redistricting Commission
On Election Day, under brilliantly sunny and windy skies, Fair Districts PA volunteers from across the state again donned their FDPA apparel and invited voters to add their names to the petition in support of an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to draw PA’s congressional and state legislative maps. Some volunteers put in a shift near home before or after work. Others gave an entire day to volunteer in a region where we need to grow. Some volunteers were helping with the Polling Place Outreach effort for the first time while others have been volunteering at the polls in this way since 2017. In all, over 170 volunteers and captains invested time to reach voters at 48 polling places in 27 counties.
While Political Leaders May Fear Reform, Pennsylvania Voters Demand it
At firehouses, rec centers, churches, and township buildings, volunteers answered questions and explained why redistricting is required by law to balance populations in districts. While some voters were still unfamiliar with the word gerrymandering, our volunteers noticed that the national nuclear war on redistricting had made larger numbers of voters aware of the term and its meaning.
All voters understood that it’s a conflict of interest to allow legislators to draw their own district lines. Many voters also wanted to get the Pennsylvania Supreme Court out of the redistricting business: not picking the chair of the state legislative redistricting commission, and not hiring special masters to draw the maps or choosing the maps themselves. While no one wanted the “other side” to draw the lines, a small handful of voters did want their party to be in control of the map-drawing process. Even these voters admitted that protection from gerrymandering for the other side would also provide protection for their own. They also recognized the harm of billionaires or dark money Super PACS trying to control Congress by pouring millions of dollars into our judicial and state legislative elections. When asked, all agreed that an Independent Redistricting Commission would make Pennsylvania elections less interesting to outside money.
Over 4400 voters signed petitions
For some voters, just the mention of gerrymandering was enough to gain quick support. Others wanted more explanation. Some dryly noted that if legislative leaders of both parties were opposed to the IRC, the IRC must be a good idea. Some agreed wholeheartedly with the Independent Redistricting Commission but were concerned about repercussions if they added their names to any list of supporters. Some were already subscribed to our email list and expressed interest in contacting their legislator to ask for their legislator’s support of House Bill 31/Senate Bill 131. Some took information with them to consider at home.
Over 4400 voters added their names to the petition in support of an independent redistricting commission. These new supporters included candidates running for local office, a mayor in Schuylkill County, parent-child duos, and a new citizen from Canada who was appalled that politicians in her new home were allowed to pick their voters.
Volunteers from several polls mentioned that campaign workers from both the “red” tent and the “blue” tent sent their voters to FDPA volunteers to sign the petition for an IRC. Majority Leader Matt Bradford stopped by to chat with Fair Districts PA volunteers at one poll. He didn’t add his name, but more than 700 of his constituents did. In rural areas, suburban areas, cities large and small, Pennsylvanians understand that unfair districts hurt all of us.
It’s not too late to participate!
There are over 7,000 polls in our state, so chances are you didn’t see a Fair Districts PA volunteer. But you can still be part of the effort to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania and make your vote count.