The debate over the redrawn maps for both the General Assembly and Congress will have tangible policy impacts for the next decade.

But there’s a much more tangible local impact if the maps hang in various states of limbo for several weeks.

The first day to circulate nominating petitions is less than a month away and Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said the Northwest County Commissioners Association recently met and discussed the “unsettled maps.”

He said resolution is needed on both maps soon. Without resolution, the county elections office could be in a position where they are “not sure who should be circulating petitions where.”

Both sets of maps are currently tied up in bureaucratic processes — the Congressional maps are working through the Republican General Assembly and would need the blessing of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf while the General Assembly maps are in a public review period under the auspices of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

The reality is that neither map is likely to be completed now, which is the timeline county officials want to see.

“Either one of them has the potential to put us in a jam,” Kafferlin said. “If they condense it any, that’ll be rough on the candidates, rough on elections staff.”

Moving the election or the deadline for the maps is an option but both seem unlikely.

“Blessedly we might be able to bring (retired Elections Director) Lisa Rivett back for some logic and accuracy testing and programming the machines but with all the mailings and everything?” he added. “It’s going to be crazy unless they make a decision, like, today, which isn’t realistic.

The state Constitution establishes the Legislative Reapportionment Commission to redraw the maps the year after a federal census.

That body has approved a preliminary plan and most recently held one in a series of public hearings to gather feedback on that plan from across the state.

The plan was adopted on Dec. 16, which started the clock on a 30-day period for anyone to file exceptions. The commission, according to the state Constitution, would have 30 days to respond to those exceptions.

The state House has approved a Congressional map but based on comments he has made it would appear Wolf is unlikely to sign off on that proposal.

The current Congressional map was ultimately settled by the state Supreme Court.