The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that current congressional maps are unconstitutional.
The 4-3 decision issued Monday also states that revised maps need to be submitted to Governor Tom Wolf by February 9th. The Governor must then submit the revised plan back to the state Supreme Court by February 15th.
The court has issued new guidelines lawmakers are to follow when drawing the new legislative districts including “compact and contiguous territory; as nearly equal in population as practicable; which does not divide any county, city, incorporated town, borough, township, or ward, except where necessary.”
If the legislature and Governor do not comply with this order, the maps will be drawn by the court after hearing from all parties in the current case. This timeline does not anticipate the need to move the date of this spring’s primary election which is scheduled for May 15th.
Written by Ryan Saeler