Fair Districts PA - Lancaster County

08/11/2026

A new national poll ( https://www.fixourhouse.org/new-poll-shows-growing... ) suggests voters aren't happy and are looking for solutions.
Proportional representation? Increased number of seats in Congress? Multiparty governance?
How about independent commissions?
This didn't make the headlines but worth some attention: no matter the party, there's a high level of concern that "in some states, the way congressional district lines are drawn means that election results don't match the overall statewide vote."
Here's one clear takeaway: "In a moment of gerrymandering total war, extreme polarization, and a dysfunctional Congress, the American public is eager to embrace big ideas that strike at the roots of the problem."

A new poll shows support for moving the U.S. toward proportional representation, a system that elects multiple representatives in a single district in rough proportion to a party's vote share.

08/09/2026

August 6 was the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. August 8 will be the League of Women Voters of the US celebration, with Unite and Rise for Voting Rights events in cities and towns across the country.
As LWVUS CEO Celina Stewart reminds us: "Voting rights or any right that we have only is strengthened and maintained if people use them. . . You actually have to show up to vote in order for our rights to be protected.”
Find a League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania event here: https://www.lwv.org/riseforvotingrights
And make a "Me plus five" strategy: “How do we make sure that we touch five people in our own network to get them to make a voting plan and show up to vote in November?”
https://www.theroot.com/why-the-voting-rights-act-still...

Sixty-one years after the Voting Rights Act, one expert explains why Black voters face renewed attacks on access, representation and the power of the ballot.

08/06/2026

While leaders in both parties race to gerrymander more districts, voters want leaders willing to speak out about the harm to all of us when leaders choose their voters.
This clip went viral fast.
Thank you Secretary Pete Buttigieg

---Stay in touch with Pete:On Instagram: https://www.instagram....

08/01/2026

86% of Americans say they are exhausted by our divisions.
Faith in institutions has fallen to historic lows.
While this discussion is focused on Congress, the same is true here in PA: "over decades, partisan actors have engineered an electoral system that rewards division and punishes cooperation. We have coded dysfunction into the DNA of our democracy. The good news is that we can code it out."

A broken incentive system is driving division — and structural reform is the path to renewal.

07/30/2026

Committee of Seventy President and CEO Lauren Cristella introduced the July 16 Promise of Democracy Summit with a reminder of the need to show up for democracy when it matters. Check her comments, and those of University of Pennsylvania Provost John L. Jackson, and watch for additions to the summit playlist.
https://youtu.be/CIqtuHMT_-I?si=ManNRpuvRjo5Ftjr&t=14 S

07/27/2026

Committee of Seventy was part of the launch of Fair Districts PA and has a been a strong ally ever since. Their Democracy Summit on July 15 and 16 featured national, state and Philly voices on civic engagement and the function (and dysfunction) of branches of government, with many ideas for taking action to make democracy stronger.

From trust in elections to political polarization, experts shared what they believe Americans should understand about democracy's future.

07/23/2026

Indiana & Westmoreland County Senator Joe Pittman (Senate Majority Leader) and Montgomery County Rep. Matt Bradford (House Majority leader) once again blocked redistricting reform bills, despite strong bipartisan support. How very sad.

The will of a bipartisan majority is being denied by two lawmakers.

07/20/2026

Watching the ?
Imagine if captains of & were match officials.
Who would trust their calls?
Why even watch?
That’s a bit like letting PA legislative leaders control PA .
No other country allows it.

07/16/2026

On Sunday, July 12, the PA General Assembly voted on a final 2026-2027 budget and recessed until September 28. That means the bills Fair Districts PA has supported are dead for this session, since the PA Constitution requires constitutional amendments to pass in both chambers 3 months before the next election.
Yes, many of us are discouraged. Some angry.
But our work for redistricting reform is not over.
https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/.../is-there-a-tipping-point

07/12/2026

As of July 11, PA and South Carolina are the only states without approved budgets. The Altoona Mirror reporter suggests some factors behind the delay.
One additional factor not mentioned: decades of gerrymandering yielded a less accountable legislative process, with little fear of voter response. Voters take note: your votes DO count.
It's time to make clear we expect legislators to do their jobs, follow the law, and pass budgets that work for all PA, not just legislative leaders' top donors.
https://www.altoonamirror.com/.../several-factors-in.../