New congressional map splits Pleasant Unity
Hope Pospisil has voted at the Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department since she moved to town five years ago and plans to do so again this spring.
But she and nearly 800 other voters who make up the Pleasant Unity precinct in Unity would be divided between two different congressional districts under a revised map approved last month that shifts election boundaries throughout the state — should it survive a pending legal challenge.
“I don't think splitting a community is right,” Pospisil said.
The new map that will be in place for the May 15 primary splits congressional districts in 19 municipalities in 14 counties. Pleasant Unity, one of 305 precincts in Westmoreland County, is among 29 voting wards divided between two congressional districts, according to the Department of State.
Pospisil, 27, and her 2-year-old daughter, Alice, were among a group of diners at the Country Cafe in Pleasant Unity — population 276 — this week who said they were surprised to learn that line that separates the newly formed 13th and 14th Congressional districts cuts right through their small neighborhood of homes, farms and small businesses.
“What are you going to do?” asked Bernie Cutlip, 70.
“It just doesn't make sense,” said Denise Johns, 60.
The revised map was drafted by the state's Supreme Court, which ruled the congressional districts as drawn up by the GOP in 2011 violated the state constitution.
Republicans appealed the legality of the new map in federal court. For now, however, it will be used starting with the May 15 primary.
All Pleasant Unity voters will continue to be part of the 18th District for a special election March 13 between Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb.
The redrawn map shifts voters throughout the state, including in Westmoreland County. Residents in Pleasant Unity precinct will mark the divide between two new congressional districts: the 14th stretches west through Westmoreland County, south in Fayette and westward through Washington and Greene counties; and the 13th District cuts through Pleasant Unity and runs east for more than 150 miles through Gettysburg to the border of Adams and York counties.
Westmoreland County Elections Bureau Director Beth Lechman said officials are still sorting out details of the new map. Once they do, they will notify voters in the Pleasant Unity precinct as to which district they belong, she said.
Pleasant Unity voters will continue to cast ballots at the fire hall. But election machines placed in the precinct during the May primary will offer two ballots, Lechman said.
“There will have to be an additional level of checking by poll workers to make sure they verify they have the right district of voters,” Lechman said, noting that elections officials are preparing a revised system to verify ballots are cast for the right race.
Split voting districts are not entirely unique, according to Lechman.
Seven precincts across the county currently divide voters between two school board districts, she said.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.
