Pennsylvania Voters Propose Fair Congressional Map for Court’s Consideration
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2022
Contact
Brooke Lillard
Lillard@redistrictingaction.org
Pennsylvania Voters Propose Fair Congressional Map for Court’s Consideration
Washington, D.C. — In a submission today to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, voters supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund (NRAF) filed a brief in support of its proposed congressional plan as part of the ongoing impasse lawsuit, Carter v. Degraffenreid, which asks the court to step in to draw the state’s new congressional districts based on 2020 Census data.
The Carter petitioners filed their complaint on December 17, 2021, based on the state’s malapportioned congressional districts, and the reasonable likelihood that the Pennsylvania General Assembly and governor would fail to enact a congressional map in time for the 2022 elections. If the General Assembly and governor fail to enact a map by January 30, the Commonwealth Court will select one of the congressional plans filed by the parties to this lawsuit. The Carter petitioners’ congressional plan adheres to Pennsylvania’s redistricting requirements and presents a fair, compliant solution that most accurately reflects the state’s population changes.
“In contrast to the egregiously gerrymandered map passed by the General Assembly, the Carter petitioners’ congressional plan adheres to the redistricting requirements of the Commonwealth, follows the precedent set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s 2018 decision, and represents the partisan preferences of voters,” said Marina Jenkins, Director of Litigation and Policy for the NRAF. “Pennsylvanians want a fair congressional map, and this plan presents a commonsense solution that most accurately reflects the varied communities of interest across the Commonwealth.”
A hearing to consider the proposed plans of all parties in this case is scheduled to take place on January 27. The proposed congressional plan is available here, and the supporting brief can be found here.
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