Rabb to introduce legislation requiring reapportionment of wards in Philadelphia

Rep. Christopher M. Rabb    June 7, 2022 | 4:11 PM

HARRISBURG, June 7 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., is introducing legislation to require the reapportionment of wards in Philadelphia. 

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census is taken, which among other things facilitates reapportionment of legislative districts on the federal, state and local levels. All of these districts are comprised of wards. However, wards are not required to be reapportioned. As a result, Philadelphia has not updated ward boundaries for more than 50 years.

Due to shifts in demographics over the years, Philadelphia’s current wards have vastly different populations and geographic footprints. 

“It is long past time for Pennsylvania’s largest city to modernize its ward reapportionment process and ensure that it is done so in a transparent, efficient and equitable manner,” Rabb said.

Rabb continued: “My legislation would amend the Pennsylvania Election Code to require the city of Philadelphia to expand the decennial reapportionment process to political wards within its municipal borders. It would mandate its city council establish a non-partisan commission charged with presenting a plan to reapportion wards in the city to the aforementioned governing body.”

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