The Sconi

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is moving forward and hearing a case regarding redistricting issues in the state, while a federal court has plans to hear the same case.

The case comes down to the placement of district lines, which in the past had been redrawn to politically favor the majority political party at the time. Previously redrawn by majority Republicans a decade ago, the process now falls to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who can veto any maps drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“If history is any guide, there is at least, to put it mildly, there’s at least a substantial likelihood that divided government in the state of Wisconsin will have trouble as they have in the past drawing its own maps," said U.S. District Judge James Peterson to U.S. News.  

District lines are redrawn every 10 years according to new census data, and gerrymandering occurs when politicians redraw district borders to favor their respective party, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

With new maps needing completion by spring in time for the 2022 elections, the aim of the federal lawsuit is for courts to draw the new maps rather than any one political party, according to U.S. News. 

Evers created the People’s Maps Commission in order to use public opinions to create a map that should be ready by the end of October.