PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania joins a growing number of states putting an end to what’s become known as “prison gerrymandering."
That is the name given to the process of counting inmates as part of the legislative district that holds their prison, rather than counting them in the district where they lived before they were incarcerated.
The Pennsylvania Legislative Redistricting Commission voted 3-2 to change the current policy, and to count prisoners as part of their home district.
State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland County) voted against the change, pointing out college students are counted where they go to college and not at home.
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“Those students are there for a very short time," Ward said. "Many of these folks are there for a long time.”
But State House leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia, Delaware County) said that unlike inmates, "college students can fully engage with the community where their colleges are located."
McClinton cited a 2019 Villanova study. It finds counting inmates as part of the prison’s legislative district inflates the voting power of the voter in that district, while it dilutes the voting power of voters in the district where the inmate lived.
The study finds minorities and people of color are adversely affected.
One of the legislative districts it says is improperly inflated is in Montgomery County around SCI Phoenix, which houses about 3,000 of the 37,000 state prison inmates.
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Anyone convicted of a felony cannot vote while they’re serving their sentence, but can once it is complete.
People serving a misdemeanor can vote from prison, but they are registered at their home address, not at the prison.
This decision does not apply to county or federal prisoners since they are outside the commission’s jurisdiction.
Those serving life sentences will be counted where they are serving their sentences, as it’s unlikely they will return home.