Redistricting consultants for state Supreme Court say 2 map submissions are ‘partisan gerrymanders’

MADISON, Wis. (Civic Media) – Redistricting consultants hired by the Wisconsin Supreme Court say two of the six legislative maps submitted to the court are “partisan gerrymanders.”

The two maps the consultants dismissed as gerrymanders were drawn up by legislative Republicans and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.

“The Legislature’s plan does not deserve further consideration,” Bernard Grofman and Jonathan Carvas, the consultants, wrote in their report sent to the state Supreme Court. “We also note that both the Legislature’s plan and the Johnson plan, from a social science perspective, are partisan gerrymanders.”

The report said that the four other plans were mostly similar to one another, but didn’t formally recommend any of them. The consultants also said that if they were told to make their own map for consideration, they were ready to do it.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers released a statement that said “the days of living under some of the most gerrymandered maps in the country are numbered.”

BREAKING: My full statement regarding the expert report submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in our redistricting lawsuit.
 
Today is an important day for the people of Wisconsin who deserve maps that are fair, responsive, and reflect the will of the people. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yOK1T0pWYT

— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) February 2, 2024

“This report plainly affirms for Wisconsinites what we’ve said all along: the maps Republicans submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court are nothing more than a partisan gerrymander,” Evers said. “While this is just one step in this process, today is an important day for the people of Wisconsin who deserve maps that are fair, responsive, and reflect the will of the people.”

The report compared the six submitted maps along with the current legislative maps on a number of measures, including population deviation, the number of split boundaries, and partisanship.

All of the parties that are taking part in the case have until next week to respond.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission said that the new maps need to be in place by March 15 so candidates can begin filing their nomination paperwork.

You can read or download the report below.