Gerrymandering is going down in PA
22 Jan '18 19:19The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has struck down the present Congressional districts in that State which Republican State lawmakers drew in 2011 to favor members of their party. https://thinkprogress.org/breaking-pa-scotus-republican-gerrymander-671163474bb1/
The Per Curiam Order is here: http://www.pacourts.us/assets/files/setting-6015/file-6740.pdf?cb=b74d61
It requires that: any congressional districting plan shall consist
of: congressional districts composed of compact and contiguous territory; as nearly equal in population as practicable; and which do not divide any county, city, incorporated town, borough, township, or ward, except where necessary to ensure equality of population.
Such language tracks the requirements of Pennsylvania's State Constitution on which the ruling is based.
There are cases raising Federal questions currently set to be argued before the SCOTUS as regards partisan gerrymandering. The practice should be declared unconstitutional IMO; partisan considerations should have no place in determining the drawing of districts.
The Per Curiam Order is here: http://www.pacourts.us/assets/files/setting-6015/file-6740.pdf?cb=b74d61
It requires that: any congressional districting plan shall consist
of: congressional districts composed of compact and contiguous territory; as nearly equal in population as practicable; and which do not divide any county, city, incorporated town, borough, township, or ward, except where necessary to ensure equality of population.
Such language tracks the requirements of Pennsylvania's State Constitution on which the ruling is based.
There are cases raising Federal questions currently set to be argued before the SCOTUS as regards partisan gerrymandering. The practice should be declared unconstitutional IMO; partisan considerations should have no place in determining the drawing of districts.