Wisconsin redistricting effort could shape future U.S. elections

[Judi Lynn]

Supreme Court being asked to uphold a lower court’s finding that Wisconsin’s redistricting effort was unconstitutional


By ROBERT BARNES | The Washington Post
PUBLISHED: June 11, 2017 at 6:45 pm | UPDATED: June 11, 2017 at 6:46 pm


MADISON, Wisconsin – With newly elected Scott Walker in the governor’s office and a firm grip on the legislature, Wisconsin Republicans in 2011 had a unique opportunity to redraw the state’s electoral maps and fortify their party’s future.

Aides were dispatched to a private law firm to keep their work out of public view. They employed the most precise technology available to dissect new U.S. Census data and convert it into reliably Republican districts even if the party’s fortunes soured. Democrats were kept in the dark, and even GOP incumbents had to sign confidentiality agreements before their revamped districts were revealed to them. Only a handful of people saw the entire map until it was unveiled and quickly approved.

In the following year’s elections, when Republicans got just 48.6 percent of the statewide vote, they still captured a 60-39 seat advantage in the General Assembly.

Now, the Supreme Court is being asked to uphold a lower court’s finding that the Wisconsin redistricting effort was more than just extraordinary – it was unconstitutional.

More:
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/11/wisconsin-redistricting-supreme-court/