VICTORY: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Signs Fair, Constitutional State Legislative Maps Into Law Before 2024 Election

Today, in a historic victory for Wisconsin voters, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed into law fair, non-gerrymandered maps that ensure Wisconsinites will vote in constitutional state legislative districts in time for the 2024 election. This means, for the first time since 2011, Wisconsin voters will have a meaningful say in who controls the statehouse.

Today’s development follows the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s momentous decision last December striking down Wisconsin’s non-contiguous state legislative maps as unconstitutional. 

That decision stemmed from a lawsuit brought in August 2023 by the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center (CLC) alongside Law Forward, the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, and Arnold & Porter on behalf of individual Wisconsin voters who were harmed by the unconstitutional state legislative maps.

“For thirteen years, Wisconsinites suffered under unfair and unconstitutional maps — but today, that changes,” said Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at Campaign Legal Center and a native Wisconsinite. “The adopted maps represent a massive win for democracy, respect communities, and give a voice to Wisconsinites who have been silenced for far too long by gerrymandered maps deliberately designed to drown them out. These maps give all Wisconsinites — no matter where they live in the state or which party they support — a fair shot to make their voice heard in 2024.” 

After the December 22, 2023 decision striking down the state legislative maps, parties were given a deadline of January 12, 2024 to submit map proposals. On February 13, the Wisconsin State Legislature voted to adopt the maps proposed to the Court by Governor Tony Evers without any changes and, today, he signed them into law. According to the analysis of the Court’s neutral consultants, respected leaders in their field, these maps meet Wisconsin’s constitutional requirements and are politically neutral.

“Wisconsin is indebted to the 19 voters who bravely took a stand and acted, breaking the gerrymander that has stifled voters’ voices for the past 13 years,” said Dan Lenz, staff counsel for Law Forward. “Our clients now have a real chance to enact the change they have been working towards. For democracy to work for us all it must include us all, and this important effort ensures our elected representatives represent us instead of trying to rule over us. Today's win builds on the decade of litigation and organizing work for fair maps in Wisconsin and is a credit to the team including the Campaign Legal Center, the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School, Stafford Rosenbaum, Arnold and Porter and Law Forward.”

Thirteen years ago, Wisconsin lawmakers, behind closed doors and in defiance of the state constitution, drew new district lines that essentially guaranteed one-party GOP control of the legislature. In 2021 the Legislature’s proposed districts, which were ultimately adopted, increased the partisan skew of the 2011 maps and perpetuated blatantly noncontiguous legislative districts. December’s decision struck those down – and today’s development ensures Wisconsin voters will have the opportunity to vote under fair maps in 2024.

More details about the case can be found here.