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Professor Lee Ann Banaszak appointed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s recently created Redistricting Advisory Council

Professor Lee Ann Banaszak appointed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s recently created Redistricting Advisory Council

Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Redistricting Advisory Council. The six-member council, comprised of redistricting experts, will provide guidance to the governor to assist his review of the congressional redistricting plan which will be passed by the General Assembly later this year. In addition, the governor announced the opening of a redistricting website at which members of the public can submit proposed maps, outline communities of interest, and submit comments to help shape the outcome of this critical part of our democratic process.

Executive Order 2021-05 creates the council that will review processes in other states that reduce gerrymandering, develop factors to determine if a plan improves the integrity and fairness and prevents the dilution of a person’s vote and offer recommendations to ensure that districts are compact and contiguous to keep communities together and ensure people are proportionally represented.

The council members have expertise in redistricting, political science and mapmaking:

  • Tabatha Abu El-Haj, Ph.D. J.D., professor of law, Drexel University
  • Lee Ann Banaszak, PhD., political scientist, Penn State University
  • Beth Campbell Ph.D., mathematician, Gettysburg College
  • Christopher S. Fowler, PhD., geographer, Penn State University
  • John J. Kennedy, Ph.D., political scientist, West Chester University
  • Sozi Tulante, J.D., former Philadelphia City Solicitor

The council will engage the public, redistricting experts, and other stakeholders to make holistic recommendations and emphasize integrity and fairness when drawing boundaries for Pennsylvania’s congressional map. 

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Professor Lee Ann Banaszak  appointed to Gov. Tom Wolf's recently created Redistricting Advisory Council