Update from Spotlight, PA re Redistricting and Mail-In Ballots

Spotlight, PA is keeping track of what goes on in Harrisburg, like never before.

Redistricting Updates:
Pennsylvania's Democrat-led Supreme Court has taken control of the state's pivotal congressional redistricting process in a move with seismic implications and lots of scrutiny sure to follow, Spotlight PA and Votebeat report.

The high court preempted a GOP-led lower court ruling and is stepping in with the May 17 primary election fast approaching and no final map in place. Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a map passed by the Republican-led legislature last month.

The next few weeks will be critical: The state Supreme Court will now receive a report from the lower court by Monday and hold a hearing Feb. 18. Changes to the election calendar and schedule are on the table.

The five-person panel in charge of drawing the state House and Senate maps is currently making changes after a month-long public comment period. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission has until Feb. 18 to release and vote on final versions.

After that, any person is able to bring a challenge to one or both of the maps directly to the state Supreme Court within 30 days.

Mail-In Ballot Update:
Also this week, Angela Couloumbis reports the Republican-led Commonwealth Court struck down as unconstitutional Pennsylvania's expanded mail voting law following a challenge by GOP lawmakers, many of whom voted for the same law in 2019.

The law played a pivotal role in 2020's election and the litany of Trump-fueled challenges that followed, and it remains in effect with the Wolf administration appealing to the state Supreme Court. Arguments are set for March 8.

Tracking proposed amendments to the PA Constitution:
Since the latest two-year session began in January 2021, Democratic and Republican legislators have proposed more than 70 changes to the state constitution.

Most of these proposed amendments are still stuck at the beginning of the process and haven’t been considered by lawmakers. Of those actually moving through the General Assembly, two could be on the ballot this year: