Residents Can Speak Up About Redistricting at Area Meeting

The new Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform Commission is inviting the public to a series of regional meetings to talk about making the redistricting process fairer and nonpartisan.

Gov. Tom Wolf created the 15-member bipartisan commission by executive order in November and appointed David Thornburgh, president and CEO of the nonprofit Committee of Seventy, as its chairman.

The commission will study best practices in other states and submit a report to the governor and legislature later this year with recommendations for a nonpartisan redistricting process that safeguards election integrity and fairness.

The commission, Wolf said, will “bring together diverse experts and citizens to explore ways that Pennsylvania could use policies, technology, and data to curb gerrymandering and ensure fair maps.”

The regional meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Altoona on Thursday, May 16, at Penn State University-Altoona’s Devorris Downtown Center, 1431 12th Ave., Altoona.

The commission also invites Pennsylvanians to provide their comments online at http://www.governor.pa.gov/pa-redistricting-commission-feedback

More information about redistricting is available at https://www.governor.pa.gov/governor-wolf-submits-a-fairer-congressional-map-to-supreme-court

Other meetings

Other dates and locations of eight public meetings will be:

Williamsport

Thursday, April 4 – First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, 201 W. 4th St., Williamsport

Erie

Thursday, April 18 – Erie County Public Library, 160 E Front St., Erie

Pittsburgh

Thursday, May 2 – Carnegie Mellon University’s Simmons Auditorium, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh

Reading

Wednesday, May 9 – Penn State Berks Perkins Student Center, 1801 Broadcasting Rd., Reading

Philadelphia

Tuesday May 28 – Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, 750 S Broad St, Philadelphia

Bethlehem

Wednesday, May 29 – Northampton Community College Alumni Hall, 3835 Green Pond Rd, Bethlehem

Wilkes-Barre

Thursday, June 6 – Wilkes University Henry Student Center, 84 W. South St., Wilkes-Barre