HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Tom Wolf is creating an advisory panel to help review new Congressional district maps for the state.
The goal is to increase transparency and fairness in the redistricting process.
In 2018 – the state Supreme Court threw out the map that was drawn in 2011, saying it was gerrymandered and violated the commonwealth’s constitution.
The ruling is part of the debate over this year’s redrawing.
Wolf is expected to review the new maps after the General Assembly approves the plan later in the year.
The Pennsylvania Redistricting Advisory Council will be made up of six political and mapping experts who will help the governor judge the maps.
The advisors include professors of political science from the Pennsylvania State and West Chester universities, as well as a mathematician from Gettysburg College, a geographer from PSU and a former Philadelphia city solicitor.
The panel is expected to look at other state’s processes that have reduced gerrymandering.
They’ll also look at ways to prevent communities from being split up by new district lines.
The administration has also launched a website for the public to weigh in on the district maps.