The League of Women Voters of Bucks County is participating in the “People Powered Fair Maps National Day of Action” by celebrating efforts being made to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania.
On Thursday, April 29, from 12:30 to 1 p.m., at the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown, League representatives will recognize state Rep. Wendi Thomas, of the 178th District, for her leadership in redistricting reform in Pennsylvania. The League will also recognize the Bucks County Commissioners, who adopted a resolution on April 1, 2020 in support of reform.
Thomas is the prime sponsor of House Bill 22, known along with its companion Senate Bill 222 as the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act. LACRA would require fairer rules for redistricting and would allow for more transparency and public engagement in the process of redistricting in Pennsylvania.
The public is encouraged and welcome to attend.
The “People Powered Fair Maps National Day of Action” is a national nonpartisan event designed to increase public awareness and engagement around the redistricting process. The day of action is part of the League of Women Voters of United States’ program, People Powered Fair Maps. Leagues across the country are participating in this “Day of Action” and holding events to highlight how redistricting impacts issues people care about. Giving the public more of a say in how maps are drawn helps to counter partisan and racial gerrymandering, according to the Leagues.
In addition to Thomas, Bucks County’s Board of Commissioners Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, Robert J. Harvie, Jr. and Gene DiGirolamo will be in attendance. All state legislators and state senators that represent Bucks County have been invited to attend, as well. Ten of the 14 Bucks County state representatives have signed on as co-sponsors to HB 22. They include Reps. K.C. Tomlinson, Meghan Schroeder, John Galloway, Frank Farry, Shelby Labs and Todd Polinchock. Signing on to date as co-sponsors of the companion Senate Bill 222 from Bucks County are Sens. Tommy Tomlinson, Steve Santarsiero and Maria Collett.
Weather permitting, the event will be held outdoors at the Bucks County Administration Building by the Vietnam veterans memorial. In the event of inclement weather, the presentation will be held in the commissioners’ meeting room on the first floor of the Administration Building.
Visit fairdistrictspa.com and lwvbucks.org for more information.
