From Myra Enloe
Dodgeville
To the Editor:
We aren’t all that far from 2030, and after the next Census, Wisconsin will get new voting maps to account for changes in population size and distribution. Right now, we have fair voting maps that are representative of Wisconsin as a purple, competitive state.
Getting these fair maps was no easy feat, and in 2030, we’ll start right back at square one again, with the risk that the political party in power may try to gerrymander, which means they’ll draw themselves into power.
That is unless we pass legislation to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) for drawing Wisconsin legislative voting districts in the future.
An IRC is a voter-centric reform used to ensure that voters — not politicians — decide how electoral districts are drawn. The structure of IRCs varies from state to state to fit specific needs, but the overall aim is to make the map drawing process more transparent and impartial by establishing standards for who can serve on the commission and criteria for the maps.
Drawing these maps is a highly technical, mathematical process. Commissioners on the IRC will work with experts committed to fairness and the high standards set by the legislation. A key component of an IRC is that Commissioners won’t be working on behalf of a political party but rather on behalf of Wisconsinites as committed public servants.
The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition (FMC) is made up of volunteers throughout the state and nonpartisan organizations. The FMC has been working with experts, academics, and folks from other states with IRCs to write a draft proposal fit for Wisconsin’s needs.
The FMC wants to hear from folks around the state to answer their questions about fair maps legislation and get their input. Join Indivisible Southwest Wisconsin on July 13, 4-6 pm at Merrimac & Main, 115 Main St, Dodgeville, WI to learn more. Having fair voting maps and fair representation is an important building block for protecting voting rights.
We need to start now to be ready by 2030.