In a victory for voting rights and a blow to Republicans in the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned legislative maps which were viewed as especially favorable to the GOP. The maps were enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011 and were seen as heavily biased towards their party.
The court stated that the maps, which featured significantly more heavily gerrymandered districts, were unconstitutional and violated the principle of equal representation. They determined that this meant the 2008 legislative maps should continue to be used until new maps are drawn.
This is a major victory for the voting rights movement in Wisconsin, as the maps were widely viewed as a way for Republicans to remain in power, regardless of voter opinion. In recent years, the population of Wisconsin has become increasingly progressive. Despite this shift, the maps remained in place, ensuring that Republican control in the state legislature would remain the same — if not increase — for the foreseeable future.
The decision is likely to be appealed and could go all the way to the Supreme Court, however, it is a major victory for those who have been campaigning for fairer maps and voting rights in Wisconsin. The ruling may be appealed, however, it has been seen as an example of how the courts are willing to protect voters from gerrymandering — something that has caused issues in many states’ elections.