Pennsylvania HB 2326: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, providing for legislative districts.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3101
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2326
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY INGLIS, MARCH 27, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 30, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," providing for legislative districts.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XVIII-C
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
Section 1801-C. Population deviation requirement.
(a) Requirement.--
(1) To the extent practicable, senatorial and
representative districts shall be drawn with the fewest
number of divisions to counties and municipalities within a
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population of 2% above or below the ideal population.
(2) An election district may not be split in the drawing
of district lines.
(3) Districts shall respect communities of interest to
the extent practicable in compliance with the requirements of
paragraphs (1) and (2).
(b) Subsequent redistricting.--The requirements of this
section shall apply to all redistricting of legislative
districts after the effective date of this subsection.
(c) Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used
in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Community of interest." An area with recognized
similarities of interests, including, but not limited to,
ethnic, racial, economic, tribal, social, cultural, geographic
or historic identities. Counties, municipalities, townships and
school districts may constitute communities of interest so long
as the subdivision is a community of people who have broadly
shared interests and representational needs that are greater
than those of other overlapping communities of interest. A
community of interest shall not include common relationships
with political parties or political candidates.
"Deviation." The difference of a legislative district's
population from the ideal population.
"Ideal population." The population goal for legislative
districts in a redistricting plan in accordance with the
following:
(1) For representative districts, the total population
of this Commonwealth divided by the number of representative
districts as provided by section 16 of Article II of the
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Constitution of Pennsylvania.
(2) For senatorial districts, the total population of
this Commonwealth divided by the number of senatorial
districts as provided by section 16 of Article II of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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