“Wisconsin Court Upholds Democracy: Rejects GOP-Led Redistricting Plan
Today the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a gerrymandered legislative map that was backed by Republicans, citing that it was drawn in a way that gave undue advantage to Republicans in the state. This was a major victory for Democrats who have been advocating for fairer elections since the map was created back in 2011.
The court said the map created for Wisconsin’s Assembly, drawn by the Republican-controlled state Legislature, violated the Democratic principle of “one person, one vote” and gave Republican candidates an advantage of more than 3-to-1 in some elections.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court found that the map had violated the state constitution’s guarantee of “free and equal” elections. The court said the Republican map “was intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters … by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats.” The justices also said that the map was “not substantially similar” to those that preceded it, suggesting that the new map had been drawn more specifically to give Republicans an advantage.
The ruling is a major win for Democrats who have long argued that gerrymandering gives an unfair advantage to one political party, and it sets a precedent for other states in which partisan map-drawing has been a contentious issue. It remains to be seen what effect this ruling will have on the political dynamics of Wisconsin, but it is sure to be a step in the right direction toward fairer elections.
This ruling is a landmark victory for Wisconsin Democrats, and for supporters of equitable elections across the country. It should give people hope that the principle of “one person, one vote” can be protected, even in an age when gerrymandering has become pervasive. Democrats will likely be energized by this ruling, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision will serve as a reminder that fair elections are a cornerstone of democracy.