What is Redistricting?

Philadelphia City Council

The city process stems from the Home Rule Charter, the document that gives the city some independence from the state. Article II, Section 102 gives City Council 60 days to come up with a plan, which must then be signed or vetoed by the Mayor. The Council may either override the Mayor's veto or try to come up with a plan he or she finds more palatable. As an incentive to get things done expeditiously, the Charter says that Council members will stop getting paid if they exceed the six month limit. They only get their salaries back (with back pay) once they have a plan in place.

• April 1, 2011 – Deadline for the U.S. Census Bureau to publish the data required for redistricting.
• June 16, 2011 – City Council breaks for summer recess.
• September 15, 2011 – City Council returns from summer recess
• October 1, 2011 – Deadline for City Council to have a redistricting plan in place. If no plan is in place by this deadline, six-months from publication of the census data, City Council members stop getting paid until one is. (Council went without pay in both 1991 and 2001 for not meeting this deadline.)
• May 19, 2015 – Municipal Primary Election in which new district boundaries take effect.
• November 3, 2015 – Municipal General Election in which City Council candidates are elected to represent the newly drawn districts.
• January 4, 2016 – First day of City Council elected to newly drawn districts.

Compiled by Committee of 70