Frequently Asked Questions

Redistricting Basics

• What are voting districts?
• What is redistricting? How does it work?
• What is reapportionment?
• What is gerrymandering?

Why Redistricting Matters

• Why should all Pennsylvanians care about ending gerrymandering?
• Why should Republicans care about ending gerrymandering?
• Why should Democrats care about ending gerrymandering?
• Why should third-party, independent, and unaffiliated voters care about ending gerrymandering?
• How would ending gerrymandering affect term limits?

The Problem

• Is the problem created by one political party, or do both do it?
• How can we have fair districts when voters from the same political party choose to cluster in the same area?
• Could we solve the problem by voting our current legislators out of office if we don’t like what they’re doing?

Lessons from Other States

• Have other states used citizens commissions, and how did they make it happen?
• Have other states with independent citizens commissions been successful in creating fair districts?
• What kinds of reform efforts are happening in other states?

Collaborative Policymaking Information

• Recommendations from The Sometime Governments
• Recommended Best Practices for Collaborative Policymaking