Because of population shifts, redistricting is necessary to make congressional and state legislative districts equal in population, fulfilling our one-person, one-vote principle.

It is a hotly partisan insider's game that is ignored by most citizens. Yet we ignore it at our own peril because the results directly affect how we are governed.

Those in charge of the process can determine the re-election prospects of incumbents and impact which political party will have majority control in the Congress and state Legislature. Our right to a meaningful choice when we go to the polls is denied.

The state constitution gives legislative leaders (who are leaders of their political parties) exclusive power to draw General Assembly district boundaries. The process is bipartisan, but these leaders can and do collude to create safe districts for incumbents and candidates of their parties.

Two consequences of gerrymandering may be less obvious. First, a lack of competitive elections breeds voter apathy and reduced civic participation. Why become involved when the result is predetermined? Why volunteer or vote? Why become a candidate to run on a losing party ticket?

Gerrymandering contributes to the gridlock that dominates political discourse.

When a safe district disenfranchises the opposing party, favored candidates have no need to reach out to swing voters or engage in the bipartisan compromise to solve pressing problems like access to quality education or affordable health care.

It is time to demand changes that consider the interests of voters first, not the politicians. The public should participate in a process that draws compact and rationally shaped districts.

If maps can be drawn to create political advantage, they can be drawn to promote fairness and democracy.

Reform requires an amendment to the state constitution; legislation must be passed by June 2008 for reform to take effect in time for the 2011 redistricting.

Contact your state senators and representatives today and demand that they work diligently to pass this legislation by June.

Time is running out.

Editor’s note: Andrea Mulrine is the president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania . This op-ed was submitted by Janice Horn, president of the Clarion County League of Women Voters.