The Wisconsin State Supreme Court recently made a ruling that is sure to have a seismic impact on the political landscape for years to come. On Tuesday, April 6th, the court ruled to overturn Republican-favored legislative maps that had been used for the past decade.
The court’s decision decided a case that had been brought forth in 2015 from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin in an attempt to have voting districts that put parties and communities on a level playing field. The League’s lawsuit was initially dismissed in 2017; however, after a series of appeals, the ruling was reversed in the favor of the League this week.
The overturned election maps were initially adopted after the 2010 census and they weren’t set to be changed until after the 2020 census. But in the wake of population shifts and partisan differences, the League argued that, in a sense, the system had been corrupted. The court’s ruling has determined that, in some areas, gerrymandering had taken place and that due to its malign influence, the process of elections was no longer democratic.
The ruling is causing a stir on both sides. Republicans, whose districts were fairly molded to their advantage, found the ruling to be a blow to their sway over the electoral landscape. In contrast, Democrats are hoping that the ruling will help to restore a sense of democratic fairness in the process.
The ruling comes on the heels of a much-anticipated Wisconsin mid-term election. The state is set to hold its primary elections on August 14th and the court ruling is already causing concern for both parties. Many now believe that the new redistricting has the potential to cause changes in the election results that could disrupt existing loyalties and bring in favor for opposing party members.
Overall, the court’s ruling has started a conversation about the importance of fair elections and voting districts that serve both parties and communities fairly and equally. It will be interesting to see what new state legislations and court precedents come of the court decision in the coming months and years.