Democracy is ill-served by ongoing gerrymandering

By Kelly Fenton

It is time to develop an Independent Redistricting Commission in Wisconsin (IRC) to draw district voting maps and permanently end gerrymandering.

Political parties often use power to corrupt the levers of government for their own interests. One of the methods they use is drawing district voting maps that give their party the greatest chance of winning the greatest number of seats, without regard to the state’s political demographics. This power grab is called gerrymandering.

George Washington had an interesting take on political parties. In his farewell address in1796, Washington warned the nation about political parties. He suggested that political parties will utilize cunning and corruption to subvert the power of the voters. If he were around today, he would say that gerrymandering of voting districts is the ultimate way to grab and hold power. A legislature gerrymandered by one political party has little incentive to respond to the concerns of the people, given that their incumbency is all but locked in by the maps.

Look no further than Texas to see the power grab by Republicans through the gerrymandering of U.S. Congressional voting districts. This was at the request of Trump and with the new maps Republicans could artificially control Congress. This cheating looks like bullies changing the playground rules to win the baseball game. That they are redrawing maps mid-decade instead of at the beginning of the decade makes this even more egregious.

In response to this attempt to further gerrymander congressional districts, Republicans and Democrats alike are planning to redraw voting maps all over the U.S. When will this corruption end?

Before democracy disappears in Wisconsin, voters should support an Independent Redistricting Commission. Take power away from political parties to draw district voting maps and end gerrymandering. Go to the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition website to learn more.