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Pennsylvania has experienced two dramatic redistricting reform efforts in the past few years: intervention by the state Supreme Court to establish a new Congressional map, and Fair Districts PA's valiant but unsuccessful attempt to take politics out of redistricting by amending the state Constitution.

Why are district lines so important in American politics? How are new districts decided in Pennsylvania (and elsewhere)? What is gerrymandering, how is it done, and what goals can it seek to achieve? How does political demography sometimes produce similar effects ('unintentional' or 'natural' gerrymandering)? How can gerrymandering be prevented?

As the Commonwealth embarks on a new round of mapmaking in 2021, the same old decision-making structures are still in place, but the distribution of power within them is very different than it was a decade ago. What sort of outcomes can we expect -- or hope for?

Dr. Jack Nagel studies democratic theory, voting systems, social choice, and political participation. He has explored those themes with empirical research on the United States, New Zealand, and Britain. He is author of “The Descriptive Analysis of Power,” “Participation,” and many papers, including articles in the American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics and elsewhere. Nagel has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Essex, a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, an NSF grantee, and an IRIS Scholar.

This will be an online event hosted via Zoom Conferencing. You do not need a Zoom account but you will need to download and install the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device to join the event. Please email us at info@pennsvillage.org in advance if you need assistance installing the Zoom app. If you cannot join the event using your computer or mobile device and the Zoom app, you can join the event via teleconference and hear the audio portion. You will receive an email a day or so before the event with a link to the meeting, the Meeting ID, call-in telephone numbers and instructions for joining the meeting.

Please register through our website by clicking the Register Now on the right. Directions for Self Registration can be found here. You can also register by emailing Info@pennsvillage.org, or calling 215-925-7333. This program is free of charge to our members and volunteers. Guests may attend up to three programs before being asked to join and/or volunteer with Penn’s Village.

Penn’s Village welcomes and actively encourages an inclusive and diverse community of members, staff, Board of Directors and volunteers. Inclusiveness and diversity mean welcoming all and excluding no one because of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social-economic status, physical abilities, religious beliefs or political beliefs.