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Can Wisconsin redraw its legislative and congressional maps before the next census?

By Erin Gretzinger
YES

In League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled there are no provisions in the Constitution or federal law prohibiting states from redrawing their congressional or legislative maps at any time. However, they must redistrict at least every 10 years after the national census is completed.

Mid-decennial redistricting has occurred several times in recent years. Courts have voided maps mid-decade and ordered legislatures to draft new maps or imposed new maps themselves. In the last census period, courts invalidated maps drawn for Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Wisconsin's current maps, drawn by Republicans, are considered some of the most heavily gerrymandered in the nation. Although the state is split nearly evenly between the two major parties, beginning in 2023, Republicans will occupy six of Wisconsin's eight U.S. House seats and roughly two-thirds in the state Legislature.

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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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