Federal court: Voting districts drawn by Wisconsin Republicans unconstitutional

MADISON — A federal court says voting districts drawn by Wisconsin Republicans are unconstitutional.

The ruling issued Monday, November 21st is a major victory for Democrats who have been in the minority for six years and lost ground in the November election.

A three-judge panel tossed maps drawn by Republican lawmakers five years ago, saying they violate the voting rights of Democrats.

Once every decade, the Wisconsin Legislature re-evaluates Senate and Assembly districts -- drawing new lines that often have a huge impact on future elections.

"When they draw a map, the map should be fair.  We should measure the map to decide whether it`s fair or not so both parties have a chance to win and to hold the majority," Sachin Chheda, director of the non-partisan Fair Elections Project said.

Chheda said the maps drawn by Republican lawmakers in control of every branch of state government five years ago tipped the scales to favor one party.

Chheda organized a dozen citizens across the state who sued in 2015.

"You can`t create a situation where elections don`t matter at all," Chheda said.

The maps divide Wisconsin into 99 Assembly and 33 Senate districts. A dozen voters sued in 2015, arguing that the boundaries discriminated against Democrats by diluting their voting power.

Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Peter Barca said the 2012 elections were proof the system was disproportionate.

"For state Assembly, roughly 1.4 million voted for Democrats and 1.2 voted for Republicans and yet they ended up with a huge lopsided majority," Barca said.

READ the decision of U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

"(Monday's) decision is an outlier. I think it would be wrong to think that there would be a tremendous difference in the outcome of legislative races," Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute of Law & Liberty said.

The courts have directed both sides in this case to come up with a solution to this issue, and they'll have a month to brainstorm.

One potential solution is having the courts create districts -- not lawmakers.

The following are statements issued by a variety of state and political officials:

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel

Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha)

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning

Assembly Democratic Freshmen Caucus

Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee)

State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D – Milwaukee)

Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse)

Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh)

Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire)

Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee)

Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona)