Deadline To Comment On Redistricting Is Today: Vitali

In an email to Haverford Township residents, State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-166) stated that the deadline to comment, or make an exception, about the proposed redistricting of the township is today.

"Today, Nov. 30, is the deadline to file an exception to the partisan redistricting plan that would split Haverford Township and several other Delaware County communities to benefit Republicans in the state House and Senate. Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or independent, this affects everyone – packing members of one party into certain districts reduces competitiveness and accountability," Vitali wrote in an emailed press release.

, Vitali admitted that the redistricting would also benefit him as well, giving him more Democratic voters. But he and the township's board of commissioners both have said on numerous occasions that they want to keep Haverford Township intact.

The commonwealth’s Reapportionment Commission presented a preliminary plan on Oct. 31 to move the 1st and 9th wards from Vitali’s 166th district to the 163rd district, belonging to Republican State Rep. Nick Micozzie.

"This plan violates the state constitution, which says in Article II, Section 16 that municipalities cannot be split between House or Senate districts 'unless absolutely necessary,' Vitali stated in his Wednesday morning email. "You can send an exception today through the email form on the commission's website. All exceptions must contain the name of the person filing the exception, his or her mailing address and daytime telephone number. Exceptions should be addressed to Commission Executive Director Charles E. O’Connor, Jr."

In an email reply to the Haverfor-Havertown Patch, Robert Fogel, a legislative assistant for Vitali, said that it would most likely be a long process before the proposed redistricting plan is either approved or denied.

"I believe the commission has 30 days from today to approve a final plan. From then, court challenges may be filed to the final plan, which could ultimately extend the process by many months," he wrote.

Vitali also urged people to read about his testimony during a Nov. 18 public hearing about the redistricting, which can be found as a PDF press release accompanying this article.