publicly accessible Internet website.
(2) As soon as possible after December 31 of each year
ending in zero, the commission shall obtain from the United
States Census Bureau the population data needed for legislative
redistricting that the Census Bureau is required to provide the
Commonwealth under 13 U.S.C. § 141 (relating to population and
other census information) and shall use that data to assign a
population figure based upon census data to each geographic and
political unit described pursuant to subparagraph (i). Upon
completing that task, the commission shall begin the preparation
of a plan as required by this section and section 16. The
commission shall use the data obtained to prepare:
(i) Necessary descriptions of census blocks, voting
districts, wards, municipalities and counties for which census
data will be reported and which are suitable for use as
components of districts.
(ii) Maps of census blocks, voting districts, wards,
municipalities and counties within this Commonwealth, which may
be used to illustrate the locations of district boundaries
proposed in a plan.
(k) Each plan shall provide that any vacancy in the General
Assembly which is filled under the plan, occurring at a time
which makes it necessary to fill the vacancy at a special
election held under section 629 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
shall be filled from the same district which elected the senator
or representative whose seat is vacant.
(l) The commission, within 30 days prior to the deadline for
approval of a preliminary plan as set forth in subsection (m)
(1), shall schedule and conduct at least four public hearings in
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