Redistricting sense

Citizens commission among Wolf’s voting reforms

Pennsylvanians should never again be subjected to an ugly partisan tussle over congressional district boundaries like the one that just led to a new, court-imposed map. On Monday, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf amped up his support for a proposal that would put redistricting in the hands of an independent citizens commission. Now, lawmakers of both parties should jump on the bandwagon, and legislative leaders should shepherd the proposal to the finish line.

Although he had expressed support for the concept before, Mr. Wolf made the citizens redistricting commission a component of a “voting reform” agenda that also includes calls for campaign finance reform and expanded voter registration opportunities. Fair Districts PA, an advocacy group, has been championing the creation of a citizen-led redistricting commission for months. Legislation to implement the change was introduced last year by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/ Northampton, and Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton.

The bills have bipartisan support and significant numbers of co-sponsors. However, Ms. Boscola’s version has remained in committee for more than a year and Mr. Samuelson’s for 10 months. Ms. Boscola’s received its first committee hearing Tuesday. It’s way past time to put the bills before the House and Senate for full votes. Changing the redistricting process requires a constitutional amendment, involving two rounds of legislative approval and the voters’ consent in a referendum, so the sooner the process gets rolling the better. The Legislature must give the change initial approval by July 6 to be on course for the commission to begin its work after the 2020 census.

The Boscola/Samuelson bills may need some tweaking, but their concept is sound. The power to draw congressional and legislative district boundaries would shift from politicians, who use it to protect incumbents and advance one party’s power at the expense of the other’s, to 11 citizens. The panel would include a mix of Democrats, Republicans and independents who are neither elected officials nor lobbyists.

On Jan. 22, the state Supreme Court, comprising five Democrats and two Republicans, threw out a congressional district map the GOPcontrolled Legislature created after the 2010 census. When the Legislature and Mr. Wolf couldn’t agree on a new map, the court overreached and created its own. Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, declined to intervene, ending a bruising fight that pitted GOP legislators against Mr. Wolf and the Democratic justices. The new map will be in effect for the May primary, when all 18 of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House seats will be on the ballot.

A fair-minded drawing of congressional and legislative districts would be a refreshing change. In his “voting reform” package, however, Mr. Wolf deals with more than gerrymandering. He wants people to be automatically registered to vote at driver’s license centers, unless they opt out. Right now, people can elect to register at license centers. Mr. Wolf also wants to allow people to register at the polls on Election Day. Legislation making such changes already has been introduced.

However, these proposals warrant concern in light of revelations last year that at least hundreds of immigrants were illegally registered to vote in certain parts of the state, including Philadelphia and Allegheny County, because of a glitch involving driver’s license centers some years back. Only if license center employees and poll workers receive special training should the state consider expanding voter registration under their aegis. The potential for illegal registrations, especially under Election Day time constraints, is troubling.

The creation of a citizens redistricting commission, however, would be a clear-cut improvement over current practice. It’s an election year, so lawmakers have more reason than usual to commit to goodgovernment reform. Voters should hold their feet to the fire.