Fighting for fair maps and ending gerrymandering
In a true democracy, elections reflect the will of the people. But when politicians are responsible for drawing voting district maps, our representatives are literally choosing their voters. Much like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
Every 10 years, in the year following the Census, state legislatures rearrange the boundaries of Congressional and legislative districts.
Redistricting is supposed to reflect changes in population and ensure that everyone is fairly represented. But by manipulating the lines, moving friendly voters into pockets of strength and breaking up areas where they and their allies typically run weakest, members of the majority party – Democrat or Republican – can have a big impact on who’ll represent you in the statehouse and in Congress.
Politicians in power shouldn’t be allowed to draw voting maps that benefit themselves. We have a solution that is already working in Iowa – a redistricting process that would create a fair system so that voters are choosing the politicians, instead of politicians choosing their voters.
No liberty is more fundamental than the right to freely choose our representatives through voting. When politicians manipulate voting maps to keep their own political party in power, the result is dysfunction, polarization, mistrust, cynicism, and public policies that don’t reflect the will of the people.
Common Cause in Wisconsin is working to establish an independent redistricting process based on the Iowa model – a nonpartisan system that ensures the lines are drawn fairly and districts represent the communities they serve.
Election Day is when we get to have our say – we need to reform the rules so that every vote matters.
Join us in the fight for fair maps!