Tuesday, November 17, 2020

FAIR MAPS Action!

On Thursday, November 19, attend an ONLINE public hearing on redistricting reform being hosted by Governor Evers' People's Maps Commission. The hearing, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., will focus on the Third Congressional District. Visit this link to find how to register to testify. You may also submit written comments by using this form.

And, from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign:

 TAKE ACTION ON FAIR MAPS! BY NOV. 22!

Dear Friend, 

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is taking public comments on a proposed rule that would pre-rig the process for the drawing of legislative and congressional district maps and would likely lead to another gerrymander in Wisconsin. 

The proposed rule was submitted by the rightwing Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), and it has the following flaws: 

First, it would jump any legal challenge to redistricting immediately to the Wisconsin Supreme Court rather than let that challenge work its way through the courts in a normal fashion. The establishment of a record at the lower court level would enhance transparency and enable the citizens of Wisconsin to grasp the evidence in the case and the competing arguments as they wend their way through the courts. 

Second, nonprofit public interest organizations and concerned citizens could get aced out of any hearing on redistricting maps before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The WILL petition, in Section 5(b), requires only that the political parties be heard by the Court in any dispute over the maps. It does not allow room, explicitly at least, for groups like ours that have a longstanding interest in this issue to be heard. Redistricting is not simply a dispute between the parties. 

Third, the proposed rule that WILL is advancing gives the Court the leeway to disregard the procedures and requirements laid out in the rule itself. So that’s no rule at all if it allows you to toss everything out the window and just do what you want. If you’re going to have a rule, it should be abided by, and it should be transparent, and it should be applied in a fair manner. 

So I have a favor to ask: Please write the Wisconsin Supreme Court today and tell them that you oppose this rule and tell them why in your own words. 

At the top of your letter, please note that you are writing concerning Rule Petition 20-03 relating to legal challenges to redistricting

If you copy your letter into this form by Nov. 22 at 5:00pm via the Wis. Fair Maps Coalition, we’ll submit it for you. 

Thanks for your help! 

Best, 

Matt Rothschild Executive Director rothschild@wisdc.org

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