DEPARTMENT OF STATE May Primary; Notice from the Secretary of the Commonwealth [32 Pa.B. 2285] On January 7, 2002, Governor Mark Schweiker signed into law Act 1 of 2002 (Act 1), which established the Pennsylvania congressional redistricting plan. On April 8, 2002, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued an order finding that Act 1 was unconstitutional and enjoining the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation from implementing Act 1 of 2002.
On April 18, 2002, Governor Mark Schweiker signed into law Act 34 of 2002 (Act 34), which altered the Pennsylvania congressional redistricting plan found in Act 1. Section 501 of Act 34 requires the Secretary of the Commonwealth, by April 25, 2002, to ''. . . make a determination as to whether an injunction prohibiting the Commonwealth from conducting the 2002 Election for Representatives in Congress in accordance with the Redistricting Plan contained in Act 1 of 2002 remains in effect.'' Notice of the determination is required to be transmitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau on April 25, 2002, for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
On April 23, 2002, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued an order allowing the Secretary of the Commonwealth to conduct ''. . . the 2002 Congressional elections using Act 1.''
Accordingly, this 25th day of April, 2002, I hereby declare that an injunction prohibiting the Commonwealth from conducting the 2002 election for Representatives in Congress in accordance with the redistricting plan in Act 1 of 2002 does not remain in effect. The 2002 General Primary will be held on May 21, 2002 for all federal and state offices previously designated to the county boards of elections. The 2002 General Election will be held on November 5, 2002 for all Federal and State offices previously designated.
This notice shall be effective on April 23, 2002, to coincide with the Order of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
C. MICHAEL WEAVER,
Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-812. Filed for public inspection May 3, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
