Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 94 into legislation on Monday, remapping legislative districts and remedying a few of the most gerrymandered maps within the US.
2023 Wisconsin Act 94 focuses on legislative redistricting and enacts maps which are conscious of the desire of the individuals, keep away from partisan bias, and enhance the variety of aggressive legislative seats. The act directs the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to attract redistricting plans and establishes a redistricting advisory fee to help within the redistricting course of.
Evers took to X (previously Twitter) Monday to handle the benefits of signing the brand new maps into legislation. He claims these maps are “truthful, responsive, and mirror the desire of the individuals.” Evers argues that the maps will permit every political get together a good alternative to win legislative seats and higher symbolize the preferences of the individuals. The legislature has beforehand used municipal wards to map legislative districts. Evers passionately spoke of the advantages of the brand new legislation, stating:
I’ll at all times attempt to do the best factor for our state. Wisconsinites need truthful maps, and Wisconsinites deserve truthful maps. So, right now, I’m enacting truthful maps for the good state of Wisconsin … After I promised I wished truthful maps—not maps which are higher for one get together or one other—I rattling properly meant it. Wisconsin shouldn’t be a purple state or a blue state—we’re a purple state, and I imagine our maps ought to mirror that fundamental reality.
Others joined Evers in celebration of the brand new legislation. State Consultant Greta Neubauer praised the brand new legislation by saying:
Because of the onerous work of numerous individuals over a few years, Wisconsin will not be among the many most gerrymandered states within the nation. At this time’s victory belongs to these advocates, voters, and other people throughout the state who continued to imagine that our democracy is value preventing for and by no means gave up within the wrestle for truthful maps. That is the start of a brand new period in Wisconsin — the place the desire of the individuals will as soon as once more be the legislation of the land.
There have been no legislative maps in place for the 2024 election after the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket beforehand ruled that Wisconsin’s legislative maps violated the state’s structure. This influenced the Republican-led Home in its choice to go the act because it believed the court docket redistricting the state would have higher benefitted the Democratic get together. Home Speaker Robin Vos addressed the matter:
At this time, Governor Evers signed probably the most Republican-leaning maps out of all of the Democrat- gerrymandered maps being thought of by the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket. We despatched him these maps, not as a result of they’re truthful, however becuase the individuals of Wisconsin deserve certainty in state authorities.
The maps enacted Monday will take impact instantly, and Evers has requested that the Supreme Court docket of Wisconsin retain jurisdiction over the act.
