Fair election districts

Pennsylvania politicians and citizens who do not support an end to gerrymandering in our state should take note of the results created by our gerrymandered districts in the recent 2018 elections.

In the state Senate races, Democratic candidates won 54 percent of the total vote but only 48 percent of the seats while Republican candidates received 46 percent of the votes but won 52 percent of the seats.

In the state House, Democrats won 55 percent of the total vote but 46 percent of the contests while Republicans got 45 percent of the vote and 54 percent of the seats.

These are the results of the new, fairer congressional districts map created by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Democrats won 53 percent of the vote and 50 percent of the contests; Republicans won 47 percent of the vote and 50 percent of the seats.

Basically, the skew in Congress evened out; the skew in the state Legislature is clearly there.

When the skew favors one party over another, politicians' seats are safe and there is no incentive for legislative cooperation. When there is no skew, politicians are forced to listen to constituents and negotiate nonpartisan solutions to issues or face not getting re-elected.

It is time to take the mapping process away from Harrisburg politicians and give it to an independent citizens commission. Mary Jo Crowley

Williams Township

APRIL GAMIZ/THE MORNING CALL Lights from nearby buildings illuminate snow as it’s cleared off a sidewalk in Allentown during Thursday’s storm. The weather brought out the best in some people.