LETTER: Send legislators clear message: Citizens want fair voting maps

To Ozaukee Press:

Voting maps in Wisconsin do not represent Wisconsin voters. Every 10 years, with a new census, new maps are drawn. In 2010, having won the governorship and with majorities in both houses, Republicans created new voter district boundaries at a cost to taxpayers of $2.1 million.

The process was secret and involved: computer modeling to come up with maps that would increase Republican seats in the Legislature; paying a high-priced Madison law firm to facilitate it; and closed door sessions requiring GOP legislators to sign oaths of secrecy before they could view their own redrawn districts.

This is gerrymandering—drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in an irregular way to create an unfair advantage for a particular political party.

The citizens of Wisconsin have registered their disapproval of gerrymandering. Forty-nine of the 72 Wisconsin county boards voted to ban gerrymandering in favor of a nonpartisan redistricting process.    Eight Wisconsin counties have passed referendums that call for the state to adopt a fair process for redistricting. In polls, over 72% of Wisconsin voters indicate they want a nonpartisan commission to draw the legislative and congressional district maps instead of the elected officials.

When voting maps are rigged for a particular outcome, citizens’ votes no longer count. Case in point. In response to a special session called by Gov. Evers to discuss gun safety proposals that over 80% of voters support, both Assembly and Senate leaders opened and closed their sessions in less than one minute with no discussion of the proposals.  

The citizens of Wisconsin were ignored and have no way of using their vote to support candidates that represent them.

A grass-roots movement by citizens from all parties is calling for Wisconsin to adopt a non-partisan process for redrawing district maps every 10 years.

Contact your representatives and spread the word. Citizens need to drive this effort, as our representatives have little incentive because voting districts as they are now assure no competition.

Amy Otis-Wilborn
Port Washington