HARRISBURG, PA — Republican Sen. Tom Killion introduced legislation designed to end congressional gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1023 would establish an 11-member independent redistricting commission to redraw congressional district lines.

“Citizens should pick their legislators, not vice versa,” said Killion. “The current congressional redistricting process in which legislative leaders propose a congressional redistricting plan that is then presented to the General Assembly for approval is irreparably broken.”

The independent redistricting commission would consist of a randomly selected group of voters from both major political parties, independents and third-party members. People who have been lobbyists, political staff, federal or state employees within the previous five years will not be eligible for an appointment to the commission.

Senate Bill 1023 is supported by Fair Districts PA, a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals working to create a redistricting process that is transparent, impartial and fair.
Carol Kuniholm, chair and co-founder of Fair Districts PA, said “When the outcomes of elections are pre-determined because districts are drawn to favor one political party, whether Republican or Democratic, you wind up with legislators more aligned with that party’s base rather than average voters.”