Advocates pushing to change how Wisconsin draws its voting districts are hailing a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
The court ruled Monday that states can set up outside, nonpartisan commissions to redraw voting maps every 10 years. In most cases, lawmakers draw the maps after a census, but voters in 11 states have called for the politicians to have less of a role in redistricting.
Last session Democratic State Rep. Dana Wachs introduced a bill calling for a referendum to decide if Wisconsin should set up a nonpartisan redistricting board. The bill died, but Wachs said the Supreme Court decision adds momentum to the idea.
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“I’m taking a hard look at this Arizona case and I’m very certain we’ll be introducing legislation in some form,” said Wachs.
Last session, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos opposed redistricting reform, saying that redrawing voting maps should be left to elected officials.
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