Good News from Upper Providence Township Council
Upper Providence Township Applauds Court Order Supporting Fair Redistricting
Good News from Upper Providence!
Please see below for a positive message from Upper Providence Township Council regarding the ongoing redistricting effort.
Upper Providence Township Applauds Court Order Supporting Fair Redistricting
Upper Providence Township, PA – May 30, 2025 – On Friday, Judge Whelan of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas issued an order adopting Upper Providence Township’s position that voting districts must be divided by population, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Municipal Reapportionment Act. This order corrects a previous decision from 2023 and affirms the Township’s commitment to fair representation.
In 2021, Upper Providence Township began a public redistricting process—a process that should occur every ten years but had not taken place in nearly three decades. This initiative aimed to ensure all residents are proportionately represented. After a multi-year effort that included proceedings in the Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg, Friday’s order validates the Township’s dedication to fair and equal representation.
“We are grateful that Judge Whelan’s order allows us to reinstate a population-based redistricting plan and finally provide residents with a modern voting district map where everyone has an equal voice in selecting their government,” said Councilwoman Christen Rexing of District 3.
Councilman Elgin Akarsoy of District 4 added, “The Township maps had not been updated since the late 1980s, and my district, in particular, was fragmented across both sides of the Rt. 1 bypass, with a voter population disparity of nearly 20%. After nearly two years in court, it feels great to know that the original maps created transparently and in good faith with public feedback were in fact correct to follow the Pennsylvania State Constitution of drawing districts by population. We’re eager to resolve this and move on.”
The Township will now begin drafting and selecting a revised voting district map, which will be submitted to the court for approval later this summer.
For further information, please contact:
Barry Luber, Township Manager
610-565-4944, ext. 102
bluber@UpperProvidence.org