Every 10 years the population is tallied in the United States Census. These numbers are used to rearrange congressional and state legislative voting districts based on their respective populations, determine House and Senate member numbers, and ensure that local and state elected leaders represent a fair number of people.
However, the redistricting process lacks criteria for drawing fair boundaries and can grant party leaders the lion’s share of decision-making power. This makes Pennsylvania vulnerable to gerrymandering–redistricting for political gain–and can cause voters to feel uncounted or unheard.
Are you being represented in your district? Check out these resources for more information about redistricting and ways to ensure that every voter has a voice.
You can also register for the ‘Hear Me Out’ Dialogue Series: How Will Election Redistricting Affect Me? to learn more about this important issue. This 90-minute virtual dialogue will feature a representative from Draw the Lines PA to discuss how to get productively involved in redistricting and fighting gerrymandering.
For more information on redistricting, check out Fair Districts PA, the Legislative Guide to Redistricting in Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Inquirer’s explainer.
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An explanation of how such stumbling blocks as voter ID laws, superdelegates, and recount rules lead to voter disenfranchisement. You can also check out this title as eBook on Hoopla.
Former Obama speechwriter David Litt explains how the United States government has changed over time, highlighting congressional rules that create obstacles to passing bills and increased voter restrictions that lead to disenfranchisement. With humorous asides and interviews with political activists and experts, he offers optimistic ways to change the status quo. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
Alternating between history, current events, and controversial political cases, the authors accessibly explain to young readers how the Constitution works and contrast current interpretations with the framers’ intentions. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eBook on Hoopla.
In 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering could no longer be adjudicated by the courts. Arguing that this decision led to a sharp increase in politically biased redistricting in 2010, the authors analyze the current system and suggest new standards.
This highly-awarded book narrates the effects of the Voting Rights Act on society, and the ongoing attempts to counteract and weaken it, using archives, interviews and first-hand reporting. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on Hoopla.
Incorporating quotes from the responsible parties themselves, Anderson explores how voter ID laws, gerrymandering, voter roll purges, and starving communities of resources have created both legal and social barriers to voting as well as a rising tide of activism. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
As a candidate whose race was affected by voter suppression tactics, Abrams writes from a personal but well-researched perspective on how voters can work to ensure that their vote is counted, and be more civically engaged. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on Hoopla.
Data scientist Whitby charts a global 3,000-year history of the census and its surprising applications–from the first millennium BCE to ancient China, Nazi Germany, the U.S. Japanese internment camps, and the present day.
Geiger Smith examines how voting works today, how it came to be that way, the myths surrounding voting fraud, and how it can be made more accessible so more people participate in the voting process, among many other relevant topics. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eBook on Hoopla.
Profiling activists across the country, journalist Daley provides an accessible explanation of the voting process and a sympathetic, humorous portrait of voters making their voices heard. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on Hoopla.