Topline
Wisconsin Passes New Legislative Maps to Counter Gerrymandering
Key Facts
Wisconsin’s Republican-led state legislature voted to adopt new legislative maps proposed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers. The move is aimed at countering gerrymandering and preventing the implementation of court-drawn maps.
The maps, which determine the jurisdiction of state lawmakers, were drafted by Governor Tony Evers.
Republicans currently hold a majority in both the Senate and the state Assembly of Wisconsin. Despite the state being a swing state in recent presidential elections, with only a small margin of votes determining the outcome in the past, Democrats have objected to the new maps as they would not take effect immediately.
Lawmakers were ordered by Wisconsin’s highest court to draw new maps by the 2024 election. Failure to do so would result in the court implementing its own remedial maps.
Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign the maps into law.
Surprising Fact
If signed into law, the new maps would still give Republicans a slight advantage over Democrats in maintaining their majority in the state house, according to Marquette University public policy researcher John Johnson.
Key Background
The adoption of new legislative maps in Wisconsin marks the latest development in a long-standing battle against gerrymandering. A lawsuit filed by Democratic voters alleged that a majority of Wisconsin’s districts violate the state’s constitution by lacking contiguity. The state’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, necessitating the redrawing of the maps before the upcoming election.
Tangent
Wisconsin is not the only state facing controversy over legislative maps, as other states like Alabama and Georgia have also grappled with similar issues. Alabama’s maps were struck down by federal judges due to racial gerrymandering, while Georgia was ordered to redraw its maps after they were found to have discriminated against minority voters.
Further Reading
Wisconsin Supreme Court Orders New Legislative Maps: Here’s Why That Could Benefit Democrats (Forbes)
