Drawing the Line- Lawsuit to Prevent Gerrymandering

(WBRE/WYOU-TV) Pennsylvania is no stranger to gerrymandering. but many voters say -- it's time to draw the line. You may not have heard of the word "gerrymandering" -- but you've probably been affected by it. Gerrymandering is the term used to describe the process of drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party or candidate over another.

A lawsuit filed against the state could have a major impact on next year's mid-term congressional elections. Our Lead I- Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick has been looking into the lawsuit

On Monday, the Commonwealth Court took up the latest challenge to change the congressional boundaries set in 2011. Gerrymandering is nothing new. It has been a part of politics for generations. It has been challenged before...but critics say this may be the best opportunity in decades to actually end it once and for all here in the commonwealth.

Bill Hoffman, like many voters- says he knows gerrymandering takes place. But knowing it and proving it are two different things altogether, but the league of women voters filed a lawsuit against the commonwealth, saying they can prove it happened six years ago.

They say Republican legislative leaders, drew congressional district lines based on the 2010 census favored the GOP.

The league says the consequences was Pennsylvania electing 13 republicans but only five democrats to the US house of representatives since 2011.

"This lawsuit can break it wide open and bring about the biggest reform in the history of Harrisburg by making sure we empower voters and allowing them to pick their representatives “ Senator John Yudichak says there is plenty of blame to go around at the state capitol.

"Unfortunately because of partisan redistricting, and it happens on sides, democrats or republicans over the last few decades, they will draw the lines to benefit a party rather than benefit people." Added Senator Yudichak.

"There should be no gerrymandering."Dr. Thomas Baldino, a Political Science Professor at Wilkes University, says the league has a tough challenge proving this attempt to block gerrymandering g is more credible than previous lawsuits - all of which failed

"If it finds that districts that were drawn after the 2010 census were so disproportionately drawn to favor one part, in this instance the republican, or democratic party the commonwealth court could order new district boundaries be drawn."

The League rests part of its case on internal memos between republican members of the re-districting committee. Memos which were ordered released earlier this year by another court. Republican leaders argue the GOP followed the process set up by the state constitution.

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